Release, runtime and language

1980 · 82 mins · Russian

Directed by

Karen Shakhnazarov

Starring

Дмитрий Сорокин, Tatyana Vasileva, Valentina Telichkina, Veronika Izotova, Vladimir Zeldin, Yuri Gusev

Based on Leonid Zorin’s play, con‑artist Gordei Kabachkov abandons swindling to enter academia, securing a position at the Institute of Ancient Culture. With charm he wins over the benevolent members of the academic council, easily defends his thesis, and leverages the staff’s goodwill to accelerate his rapid rise up the career ladder.