The Policeman

Honest and almost naive after twenty years on the force, Azulai navigates a system that doesn’t always reward virtue. He calm crowds with a gentle, nonviolent approach and uses a knowledge of Bible and Yiddish to see people for who they are. His personal life is strained by an unfulfilled love and a commitment to not tearing his life apart for it. The arc tracks how his integrity clashes with institutional pressures, culminating in a moment of quiet triumph that doesn’t fully redeem the system.

A simple but charming prostitute who becomes Azoulay’s unfulfilled love. Her relationship with him tests his loyalty and humanity, revealing the vulnerabilities beneath his steely exterior. She becomes entangled in the photograph incident that the couple’s life revolved around, a symbol of fragile attachments. Her presence drives a tenderness within the police drama that keeps the human cost in view.

A notorious criminal who covertly befriends Azoulay as a ruse, setting in motion a plan to stage a crime to secure his promotion. He orchestrates the theft of ritual objects from a monastery, masking his true intentions behind a façade of ordinary interaction. Amar embodies a duplicitous world where trust is a weapon and manipulation pays off in the short term.

Bejerano plays a central role in deciding not to renew Azulai’s contract, balancing sympathy with the harsh realities of law enforcement administration. His actions underscore the film’s themes of institutional power, career security, and the sometimes ambiguous ethics of promotions. In the closing scene, he commands a ceremonial salute, reinforcing the tension between recognition and renewal.

A higher-up in the police hierarchy who, along with Bejerano, navigates the political and practical constraints of the force. While not deeply explored, his presence helps frame Azulai’s career within the broader organizational context. He represents the impersonal forces that shape careers more than individual merit.