Release, runtime and language

1996 · 100 mins · Russian

Directed by

Sergey Gazarov

Starring

Oleg Yankovskiy, Nikita Mikhalkov, Jan Kuželka, Evgeny Mironov, Anna Mikhalkova, Vladimir Ilin

Adapted from Mykola Gogol’s play, the film is set in a 19th‑century provincial Russian town riddled with bribery, abuse of power and embezzlement. When Mayor Skvoznik‑Dmukhanovsky convenes a meeting, he announces that an inspector is on the way, prompting frantic attempts by the officials to conceal their corruption.