Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Incorrigible Liar (1973) movie poster

Timeline

Incorrigible Liar (1973) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1973 · 75 mins · Russian
Directed by
Villen Azarov
Starring
Nikolay Smorchkov, Vladimir Etush, Yelena Kuzmina, Valentina Berezutskaya, Inna Makarova, Viktor Filippov

Alexei Ivanovich Tyutyurin, a kind and gentle man, has spent twenty years working as a hairdresser. When a promotion to salon manager arises, his colleagues point to his habit of arriving late and his reputation as an incorrigible liar. In truth, Alexei’s delays are caused by a series of strange, unintended mishaps he encounters on his way to work. At first his stories are dismissed as fables, but they become undeniable as extraordinary visitors begin to appear in his shop.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 Events in order (12)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

12 events in order · contains spoilers

Incorrigible Liar Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Incorrigible Liar (1973) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Promotion opportunity tainted by a reputation

    Tyutyurin has a chance to be promoted to the salon manager, but his coworkers and boss are wary due to his chronic lateness and reputation as a liar. The boss, Vasily Vasilievich Mymrikov, bluntly states Tyutyurin's two flaws: he lies and he doesn't know how to lie. Tyutyurin himself refuses to sign the recommendation letter.

    When
    Morning
    Where
    Salon office
  2. Morning misadventures begin

    On his way to work, Tyutyurin helps a boy retrieve a ball from the roadway. A street auto-dispenser drenches him with water, forcing him to return home to change clothes. These mishaps set the pattern of his unusual day and foreshadow the upcoming unlikely events.

    When
    Morning
    Where
    City streets
  3. A lost cigarette case and a grateful prince

    Tyutyurin discovers and returns a lost gold cigarette case to a foreign prince. In gratitude, the prince arranges for a dinner in his honor, recognizing Tyutyurin's kindness. The encounter marks a turning point in his reputation and introduces the idea of unusual favors following him.

    When
    Following the morning event
    Where
    Prince's entourage
  4. Dinner in honor and more delays

    The prince's gratitude leads to a dinner in Tyutyurin's honor, giving him a taste of respect and social opportunity. Yet this 'reward' also delays his arrival to work, prolonging the staff's worry about his reliability. The day continues to be full of unexpected twists.

    When
    Afternoon
    Where
    Prince's residence
  5. A fall under the car and the surprise passenger

    While on the return from the dinner, Tyutyurin falls under a car, and Edita Piekha sits behind the wheel. The incident injects farce into his already complicated day and another odd encounter into his life. The moment shifts his fate toward the salon again.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Street/roadside
  6. The fable comes to life

    Back at work with time pressing, Tyutyurin starts composing a 'believable' story about a party with beauties and dances to satisfy his boss. With Mymrikov's help, they stage the tale to demonstrate improved behavior. The ruse is meant to secure the promotion letter.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Salon office
  7. Boss buys the lie

    The chief accepts the story for the moment, and decides to sign Tyutyurin's character reference. The relationship between truth and performance becomes blurred as the lie temporarily achieves its aim. The atmosphere at the salon shifts toward celebration.

    When
    Late afternoon
    Where
    Salon office
  8. Remorse and confession

    Overcome by guilt, Tyutyurin confesses the truth, recounting the real events—about the girl, the ball, and the fountain. He admits he cannot consistently deceive people, acknowledging his nature. Vasily Vasilyevich immediately becomes convinced Tyutyurin is incorrigible and fears the consequences.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Salon office
  9. The boss contemplates drastic measures

    Alarmed by the confession, Mymrikov contemplates drastic actions to deal with Tyutyurin's 'incorrigibility.' His decision foreshadows a potential discharge or punishment that could end Tyutyurin's career. The tension rises as the consequences of honesty threaten his future.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Salon office
  10. The translator brings a gift from the prince

    The prince's translator arrives at the beauty salon bearing a present for Tyutyurin, signaling that the prince has not forgotten the grateful gestures. This gift complicates the situation by adding another layer of attention around Tyutyurin. It hints at further reconciliation rather than punishment.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Beauty salon
  11. Edita Piekha and the resolution

    Edita Piekha arrives at the scene with Tyutyurin's wife, helping to resolve the misunderstandings that grew from the day’s chaos. Their appearance ties together the loose ends and clarifies the social entanglements. The humor and warmth of the moment restabilize Tyutyurin's standing.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Beauty salon
  12. Misunderstandings resolved

    With the key players present, the conflict settles. Tyutyurin's true kindness and the earlier misadventures are understood as part of his character rather than deceit. The day ends with a restored balance and renewed prospects for his career.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Salon

Last updated: February 18, 2026 at 23:47

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Incorrigible Liar Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Incorrigible Liar (1973): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is Tyutyurin considered an incorrigible liar if his stories are actually true?

The irony is that Tyutyurin tells the absolute truth, but his stories are so extraordinary, a prince hosting dinner in his honor, Edita Piekha nearly hitting him with a car, that no one believes him. His boss Mymrikov sums it up perfectly: Tyutyurin lies, but he doesn't know how to lie, meaning he can't make his true stories sound believable. His colleagues assume he's fabricating fables when in fact he's just unlucky enough to experience genuinely unlikely events.

  • tyutyurin
  • liar
  • reputation
  • boss
  • misunderstandings
Q2

What mishaps cause Tyutyurin to be late to work?

Tyutyurin's morning follows a chain of bizarre incidents: he helps a boy retrieve a ball from a busy roadway, then gets drenched by a street auto-dispenser and must return home to change. He later returns a lost gold cigarette case to a foreign prince, who invites him to dinner. On the way back, he falls under a car driven by Edita Piekha. Each event delays him further, creating the pattern of chronic lateness that fuels his reputation problem.

  • mishaps
  • lateness
  • auto-dispenser
  • prince
  • ball
Q3

Why does the boss finally agree to sign Tyutyurin's recommendation letter?

Mymrikov agrees to sign after Tyutyurin, with his boss's help, composes a 'believable' fabricated story about a party with beautiful women and dancing. The chief believes he has finally corrected Tyutyurin's behavior and sees the lie as proof that Tyutyurin can perform appropriately. This temporary success prompts the boss to sign, only for Tyutyurin to immediately confess that even this story was a lie.

  • recommendation letter
  • boss
  • signature
  • promotion
  • fable
Q4

Why does Tyutyurin confess the truth to his boss after lying successfully?

Tyutyurin experiences overwhelming remorse after deceiving his boss. Despite needing the promotion, he cannot live with the contradiction of having built his success on a lie. His confession reveals the real story, the boy, the ball, the fountain, the prince, and Edita Piekha, demonstrating that his genuine kindness and integrity matter more to him than career advancement.

  • confession
  • guilt
  • honesty
  • boss
  • remorse
Q5

How does the prince's gift help resolve the situation at the salon?

The prince's translator arrives at the salon bearing a gift for Tyutyurin, proving that the extraordinary events Tyutyurin described were real all along. This external validation transforms the situation from one where Tyutyurin seemed like a chronic liar to one where his bizarre stories are suddenly verifiable. The gift serves as concrete evidence supporting his honesty.

  • prince
  • translator
  • gift
  • proof
  • validation
Q6

Why does Edita Piekha arrive at the salon with Tyutyurin's wife?

Edita Piekha arrives with Tyutyurin's wife specifically to clear up the misunderstanding. Her presence demonstrates that the car incident Tyutyurin described actually happened and that there's nothing scandalous to hide. By bringing his wife into the salon, the situation transforms from potential disaster to a moment where all parties understand Tyutyurin's character and the truth behind his delays.

  • edita piekha
  • wife
  • arrival
  • resolution
  • salon
Q7

Why does the boss contemplate drastic measures after Tyutyurin's confession?

When Tyutyurin confesses that even his 'believable' story was a lie, Mymrikov becomes convinced he is truly incorrigible, beyond reform. The boss fears that someone who cannot stop lying, even when it's against his own interest, poses a fundamental problem for the salon's integrity. This leads him to consider extreme actions like termination, though the situation ultimately resolves differently.

  • boss
  • drastic measures
  • confession
  • firing
  • incorrigible
Q8

What ultimately happens with Tyutyurin's promotion to manager?

The promotion appears to be secured after the boss signs the recommendation letter, though the timeline becomes complicated by Tyutyurin's confession and the subsequent arrivals of the prince's translator and Edita Piekha. By the end, with all misunderstandings resolved and his genuine character validated, Tyutyurin's prospects for advancement are restored. The film ends positively with his integrity recognized rather than punished.

  • promotion
  • manager
  • resolution
  • happy ending
  • career

Movie threads

More Movies Like Incorrigible Liar, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Incorrigible Liar tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with Kind-Hearted Heroes like in Incorrigible Liar

Unassuming characters whose small acts of goodness create ripples of positive change. If you enjoyed the gentle heroism of Alexei in Incorrigible Liar, you'll like these movies featuring unassuming characters whose acts of everyday kindness create uplifting stories. Discover more films where good deeds and a pure heart lead to heartwarming and rewarding conclusions.

  • heartwarming
  • gentle
  • optimistic
  • uplifting
  • kind-hearted
  • feel-good
  • Tone: heartwarming, uplifting, gentle
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a fundamentally good-natured protagonist who consistently does the right thing, often facing initial skepticism or misunderstanding. Their sincerity and actions gradually win over doubters, leading to a resolution that validates their character and rewards their innate goodness.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared focus on moral integrity and the power of small, genuine actions. They offer a gentle, optimistic view of human nature, where characters are defined by their kindness rather than ambition, leading to consistently positive and heartwarming outcomes.

Gentle Comedies of Errors like Incorrigible Liar

Stories where a cascade of charmingly improbable events drives a lighthearted plot. Find more movies with the whimsical charm of Incorrigible Liar. This list features gentle comedies where characters navigate a series of funny, improbable events that lead to comical misunderstandings and delightful resolutions, perfect for a lighthearted and charming viewing experience.

  • whimsical
  • comedic
  • lighthearted
  • charming
  • fairy-tale-like
  • playful
  • Tone: whimsical, charming, lighthearted
  • Pacing: steady, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story unfolds through a repetitive yet engaging structure where the protagonist repeatedly finds themselves in unlikely, comical situations through no major fault of their own. These escalating coincidences are the source of both conflict and humor, ultimately resolving in a way that proves the protagonist's innocence and goodness.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films with a shared whimsical tone and low-stakes comedic structure. They rely on charm, gentle humor, and the amusement of watching well-meaning characters navigate a world full of wonderfully improbable happenstance.

Every angle

Incorrigible Liar (1973) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Incorrigible Liar in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app