Crazy Day of Engineer Barkasov is a 1983 Soviet comedy feature film, directed by Nikolai Lyrchikov, loosely based on the play Canvas Bag and the stories of Mikhail Zoshchenko. The film was produced by the Gorky Film Studio and commissioned by the Television in the Soviet Union.

Plot

Set in the 1920s, the film follows engineer Alexey Gavrilovich Barkasov, a high-ranking and overworked official who, in a single day, finds himself caught up in a series of absurd and comedic mishaps. Exhausted from his demanding responsibilities, Barkasov is encouraged by his doctor to take a break. Acting on this advice, his deputy buys tickets for an operetta and arranges for Barkasov’s secretary, Sofochka Krutetskaya, to accompany him for the evening. Meanwhile, Barkasov’s mother-in-law has been subtly suggesting to her daughter that her husband’s long hours may not be entirely work-related. When Barkasov returns home briefly to collect some forgotten papers, he mistakenly swaps his briefcase with that of an electric inspector working in their apartment. To his wife’s horror, the new briefcase contains flowers and a box of chocolates, further fueling her suspicions.