Look for a Woman 1982

Mystery

Comedy

Crime

Runtime

145 mins

Language

Russian

Directed by

Alla Surikova

Made by

Gosteleradio USSR

Test your knowledge of Look for a Woman with our quiz!

Look for a Woman Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Look for a Woman (1982). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

An ordinary day at a Parisian notary office ends in tragedy. Alice Postic, the telephonist, stays late to chat with a friend on the phone and ends up finding her boss in death’s throes, with a dagger in his back. After calling the police, Alice faints, but when the officer arrives, the corpse has disappeared! Arriving on call, the police inspector Grandin turns out to be Alice’s long-time acquaintance, but he now disavows the old love they once shared. In connection with the murder, the notary Rocher and his wife are the main suspects. But everything ends in the most ridiculous way: in the midst of interrogations, the “late” Rocher arrives in the office, who spent an evening at the opera!

Alice Postic becomes a subject of ridicule from colleagues and acquaintances. But suddenly she finds some foreign objects in the office, and later the police find the corpse of an unknown young man in a park near the notary’s bureau. Linking the found objects with the death of the stranger, Alice begins her own investigation, in which she then helps, then interferes with her friend, Inspector Grandin. It turns out that the murdered young man is Jullien Nalestro, lover of notary Rocher’s wife. All the evidence indicates that the notary killed his rival out of jealousy. However, clever Alice suggests Grandin to set up a trap to catch the real killer…

Look for a Woman Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Look for a Woman (1982) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Discovery of Rocher's murder

Mademoiselle Alice Postic stays late at the Parisian notary office, chatting on the phone. She unexpectedly finds her boss, notary Rocher, in death's throes with a dagger in his back. She screams, calls the police, and faints.

Late evening Parisian notary office

Corpse vanishes; Grandin arrives

When the police arrive, they discover that the corpse has disappeared. Inspector Grandin, an old acquaintance of Alice, is assigned to the case, but he avoids rekindling their past romance. The vanishing body complicates the investigation and raises questions about the evidence.

Night Notary's office

Initial suspicions emerge

The police begin the investigation, with the notary and his wife as the main suspects due to jealousy and motive. Suspicion centers on a feud and potential manipulation of papers or finances. The case becomes tangled as personal histories come into play.

Night Notary's office

Alice faces ridicule yet persists

Alice becomes the subject of ridicule from colleagues and acquaintances for her unconventional theories. She continues to follow the clues despite disbelief from others. Her persistence keeps the investigation moving when opinions turn against her.

Following day Notary's office

Foreign objects surface as clues

Alice notices foreign objects left in the office, hints that someone tried to stage or alter the crime scene. These discoveries prompt her to dig deeper and connect events to the murder. She begins assembling clues that the police overlook.

Evening Notary's office

Unknown victim found in the park

A few days later, the police uncover the body of an unknown young man in a park near the notary's bureau. The discovery links to the office and raises new questions about the relationships among the principal players. The unknown victim becomes a key piece of the puzzle.

Days later Park near the notary's bureau

Victim identified: Jullien Nalestro

The murdered young man is identified as Jullien Nalestro, lover of Rocher's wife. The revelation deepens the motive and complicates loyalties within the notary's circle. The affair becomes central to understanding the crime.

Soon after Park near the notary's bureau

Jealousy motive examined

All evidence points toward Rocher killing his rival out of jealousy. The theory seems plausible to the investigators, but some inconsistencies nag at the case. The tension between lovers and enemies shadows every room in the office.

Investigation phase Notary's office

Alice proposes a strategic trap

Alice suggests to Inspector Grandin to set a trap to catch the real killer, using the relationships and opportunities as bait. Grandin agrees and begins to assemble a plan with her input. The plan shifts the investigation from suspicion to targeted exposure.

During interrogation planning Notary's office

The 'late' Rocher reappears alive

In the middle of interrogations, the 'late' Rocher arrives in the office alive, stating that he spent an evening at the opera. The revelation contradicts the murder scenario and shocks everyone present. The case takes a new direction as the truth starts to emerge.

Evening Notary's office

Trap yields the real killer

The trap is sprung, and the real killer is captured, exposing the earlier misdirection. The apparent jealousy motive collapses under scrutiny. The office crowd realizes the complexities behind the crime.

Evening Notary's office

Resolution and moral of the story

The resolution reveals Alice's crucial role in guiding Grandin to the truth, despite ridicule. Rocher's supposed death turns out to be a ruse that hid the real conspiracy. The mystery closes with a sense of ironic justice.

Finale Notary's office

Look for a Woman Characters

Explore all characters from Look for a Woman (1982). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Alice Postic (Sofiko Chiaureli)

A telephonist at the notary’s office who becomes the catalyst of the investigation. She is curious, persistent, and unafraid to challenge authority, even as she faces ridicule from colleagues. Her involvement drives the unraveling of secrets hidden behind polite Parisian propriety.

💬 Talkative 🔎 Investigative 💪 Determined

Maître Rochet (Sergei Yursky)

The notary whose murder sets off the investigation. He is a central figure whose relationships weave into the mystery, and his apparent return after death adds a surreal, theatrical layer to the case.

💼 Notary 🔎 Central figure 🧩 Mystery

Henri Granden (Leonid Kuravlyov)

The police inspector who arrives to lead the investigation. He is wary of past passions with Alice, and his authority clashes with the office's social dynamics as the case unfolds.

🔎 Inspector 🧭 Authority 💔 Complicated romance

Clara Rochet (Yelena Solovey)

The notary’s wife, a figure around whom suspicion swirls. Her relationship with the deceased and the shifting loyalties of those around her drive much of the film's intrigue.

💍 Wife 💔 Love affair 🧩 Suspect

Jullien Nalestro

A young man whose death in a park ties together the night’s events. He is identified as the lover of the notary’s wife, making him a central piece in the web of motives and alibis.

💔 Victim 🕵️‍♂️ Suspect 🧩 Key clue

Look for a Woman Settings

Learn where and when Look for a Woman (1982) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

Paris, France

Set in a Parisian notary office in the French capital, the story unfolds within a tightly wound urban milieu. The office and its surrounding venues anchor the action as clues surface and suspects emerge. The Paris setting emphasizes social propriety, wit, and an undercurrent of danger that drives the investigation.

🏙️ Paris 📜 Notary district 🗼 City of lights

Look for a Woman Themes

Discover the main themes in Look for a Woman (1982). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🔎

Mystery

A murder, a disappeared corpse, and a tangle of alibis drive the plot. Alice Postic becomes a deft amateur investigator, piecing together clues that others overlook. The film builds suspense through misdirection, red herrings, and a clever trap that reveals the killer.

💘

Love & Jealousy

The narrative weaves past romance into the investigation, as the inspector once loved Alice and now resists their relationship. Jealousy and passion complicate loyalties, blurring lines between duty and desire. The tension between affection and betrayal fuels the twists.

🎭

Deception

Appearances mislead: a late notary returns as a living theater, and objects in the office point toward a hidden motive. The murder investigation is staged against social performances in the office and society, revealing how fabrication can mask truth. The plot turns on cleverly staged evidence that unsettles assumptions.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore the mobile app

Look for a Woman Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Look for a Woman (1982). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the modest, candle‑lit corridors of a Parisian notary office, the night stretches beyond ordinary hours. Alice Postic, the diligent telephonist, is asked to linger after work, her routine interrupted by a lingering phone conversation that keeps her at her desk long after the streets have grown quiet. The office, usually a place of orderly paperwork and polite chatter, suddenly feels like a stage set for something far more unsettling.

When Alice steps into the manager’s study, she is confronted with a scene that shatters the night’s calm. The unsettling discovery forces her to summon help, and the arrival of the police brings an unexpected twist: the inspector on the case is none other than Inspector Grandin, a man from her past whose history is tangled with lingering affection and unresolved feelings. Their reunion is charged with a mixture of professional urgency and personal history, turning a routine police call into a delicate dance of loyalty, suspicion, and old emotions.

The atmosphere of the film balances the sober tone of a mystery with a wry, almost absurdist edge that reflects the quirks of everyday Parisian life. Colleagues go about their work under a cloud of gossip, while the city outside hums with its usual rhythm, unnoticed by those inside the cramped office. The uneasy alliance between Alice and Grandin hints at deeper layers of intrigue, suggesting that the truth may lie hidden in the most mundane details of an ordinary workplace.

Against this backdrop, the narrative invites viewers to linger in the tension between the familiar and the unknown. It teases a story where personal connections clash with the demands of justice, and where the quiet hum of the city masks a puzzle waiting to be unraveled.

Can’t find your movie? Request a summary here.

Movies with Similar Twists and Themes

Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.