Lieutenant Kizhe

Lieutenant Kijé (Russian: Поручик Киже, romanized: Poruchik Kizhe) is a 1934 Soviet comedy film directed by Aleksandr Faintsimmer, based on the novella "Lieutenant Kijé" by Yury Tynyanov. The film was released in the United States as The Czar Wants to Sleep. Sergei Prokofiev composed the score; a five-movement suite based on the score quickly became part of the international concert repertoire.

Set in Saint Petersburg in 1800, the film satirizes the absurdities of the rule of Emperor Paul I. A primpy fellow who’s obsessed with drill, obedience and discipline. One afternoon, while the Czar is taking his beauty nap, two lust-filled persons of the court, a horny clerk and an equally randy Princess sneak for their regular rendezvous, which involves making cat sounds and pinching. A cry from the lady awakens the Czar, who is bloody pissed and wants to know who the culprit is. The court is in High Fear until a Colonel comes up with the brilliant idea of blaming the disturbance on a non-existent lieutenant, a Lieutenant Kizhe, who is promptly ordered to be whipped and marched to Siberia.