The Government Inspector
Adapted from Nikoli Gogol’s The Inspector General, The Government Inspector, works to combine the theatrical energy of an onstage play with the modern structure of cinematic storytelling. After Khelstakov, a low level government clerk flees Saint Petersburg, he and his servant arrive into a small Russian Hamlet, at the same time the towns mayor, Anton Antonovich, and his gang of political rapscallions learn of an undercover government inspector on his way to the town. The arrival of Khelstakov causes the derelict towns leaders to panic, concerned that they’re wrongdoings will be discovered. The Cabinet of officials rushes to bribe, assuage, and manipulate him.
TO THE LATE TSAR
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THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR
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TO THE LATE TSAR *** THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR ...
When the mayor of a small Russian hamlet
learns of an undercoverinspector, a case of mistaken identity sends
the town spiraling into panic and greed.
Quotes
“I haven’t slept under the stars since that director of king leer.”
Statement From The Director
The Government Inspector teeters on the edge of cinematic and theatrical, it manages to capture the space between community and personal entertainment. Khelestakov acts as a noble yet debaucherous hero for us to experience the film with, his willingness, or rather, lack thereof, to change is a perfectly comical analogy for us to experience our own tendencies to get overly comfortable in our lives. Khlestakov’s foil The Mayor acts as an all too willing candidate to take on the corrupt figures we see in our own lives.
While the characters of the film manage to ground themselves in their own real world counterparts, the film still manages to exist in between suspending our beliefs, in both realism and normal human behavior.
The film's setting, a small town embroiled in political intrigue, serves as a microcosm of the larger societal issues we face. The town's bureaucracy, corruption, and gossip mirror the complexities of our own world. Through a carefully crafted visual and narrative language, we invite the audience to not only observe but also engage with these issues, sparking a dialogue about the relevance of Gogol's themes in our contemporary society.
While our characters are firmly rooted in their real-world counterparts, "The Government Inspector" exists in a realm that blurs the lines between reality and the absurd. It is this balance that allows us to challenge our audience's preconceived notions of realism and human behavior. By weaving elements of theatricality and cinematic storytelling together, we aim to create an immersive experience that resonates with viewers on both emotional and intellectual levels.
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Corruption - Hilarity - Absurdity
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Historical Comedy - Theatrical - Absurd - Queer - Period Comedy - Political
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February 2025
- Feb 4, 2025 The Movie Palace Feb 4, 2025
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March 2019
- Mar 11, 2019 The Government Inspector Mar 11, 2019
- Mar 11, 2019 Capsule Mar 11, 2019
