Lieutenant Kijé

Поручик Киже

A copying error by a military scribe turns the Russian words "the lieutenants, however" into what looks like "lieutenant Kijé". The Tsar reads the error, and wants to meet this (non-existent) lieutenant. The courtiers, eager to avoid the wrath of the temperamental Tsar, create a Kijé to serve as their royal scapegoat.

Director

Alexandr Faintsimmer

Music

Sergei Prokofiev

Screenplay

Yury Tynyanov

Status

Released

Release date

07/03/1934

Original language

Russian