The Human Resources Manager

Year: 2011

Runtime: 103 min

Language: Hebrew

Director: Eran Riklis

Drama

A disillusioned HR manager's life takes a tragic turn when a suicide bombing results in the death of a foreign worker under his care. Facing accusations of indifference, he sets out on a journey of atonement, traveling from the streets of Jerusalem to the frozen landscapes of Romania. Leading an unusual group on a convoy to the deceased woman's village, he confronts his own shortcomings and finds a renewed sense of purpose and connection with others.

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Yulia, a foreign worker from Eastern Europe who came to work in Israel, is murdered in a terrorist attack in Jerusalem. Her body remains unclaimed in the morgue. Based on her belongings, it becomes clear that she worked at a Jerusalem bakery (Berman’s Bakery), and a journalist from a local Jerusalem newspaper (played by Guri Alfi) accuses the bakery of being indifferent to her fate. The owner of the bakery (Gila Almagor), known as “The Widow,” instructs the human resources manager (Mark Ivanir) to take the deceased back to her homeland for burial.

The film follows the journey of the human resources manager from Jerusalem to the deceased’s hometown, until she is laid to rest. He is accompanied by the journalist, and in the destination country in Romania, they are joined by the deputy Israeli consul (Julian Negulesco), who is married to the consul (Rozina Cambos), and Yulia’s young son (Noah Silver).

The film’s plot faithfully mirrors that of the book. The main significant difference between the two is that in the book, the owner of the bakery is a man, “The Old Man,” whereas in the film, it is a woman, “The Widow.”

Last Updated: October 24, 2024 at 08:00

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Narrative Summary

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