Architecton, directed by acclaimed Russian filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky (Gunda), is not your typical documentary. Through mesmerizing imagery and a minimal, almost sacred soundscape, the trailer introduces a film that functions less like a traditional narrative and more like a cinematic prayer—one that reflects on the ephemerality of civilizations through the lens of stone, steel, and silence.

Shot across historic and decaying architectural landmarks from Syria to Russia to Italy, Architecton seeks to answer a deceptively simple question: what remains when we are gone? With no voiceover and minimal dialogue, the film is instead driven by its striking visuals and elemental score—glimpses of bombed-out buildings, monumental ruins, and haunting manmade structures framed with surgical precision.

The trailer emphasizes the grandeur and fragility of human ambition, where architectural marvels become archaeological ghosts. Kossakovsky’s camera treats buildings as living organisms—breathing, aging, and dying. As with his previous work, the film is composed with reverence for image and rhythm, and appears designed to provoke not explanation, but reflection.

Premiering at the 2024 Venice Film Festival to critical acclaim, Architecton is now set for limited U.S. theatrical release via A24 later this summer. It promises to be a cinematic experience as much about philosophy and perception as it is about design.