The Policeman

Officer Avraham Azoulay is an honest but extremely naive patrolman who has spent twenty years in the Tel Aviv Jaffa district without a promotion. He is married to a dull woman and the couple have no children. His upright, unassuming nature shapes how he experiences the city and his job.

Azoulay's superiors decide not to renew his contract, though they feel sorry for him. They justify the decision by stating that he will never rise in the force. The decision foreshadows the coming challenges he will face in his career.

He falls in love with Mimi, a simple but charming prostitute, and removes her photograph from the arrests billboard to protect her. His actions reveal his desires and the complexity of his loyalties. He keeps the photo hidden from his wife and colleagues, signaling trouble ahead.

Azoulay's wife discovers Mimi's photograph on the billboards and tears it to pieces. He secretly repairs the torn photo, showing his attempt to protect Mimi and his inability to reconcile his private life with his duties. He also refuses to divorce her, arguing that it would destroy his wife, a stance tied to his Kohen status and Halakha.

Azoulay achieves some success at dispersing a demonstration without resorting to violence. His knowledge of the Bible and Yiddish helps him connect with people and manage crowds. His approach establishes him as a capable, principled officer in tense moments.

During a visit by French policemen, Azoulay charms the visitors with his manner and fluency, garnering admiration from the foreign audience. The interaction highlights his charisma and the respect he earns despite his lack of promotion. The scene emphasizes his appeal beyond his official status.

In an Arab-speaking club house, Azoulay gives an unaware speech in Arabic, showing his ability to see people as individuals beyond stereotypes. The moment underlines his broader empathy and linguistic skill. It also reinforces the contrast with his personal life tensions.

Azoulay befriends Amar, unaware that he is a notorious criminal. The unlikely alliance exposes a fatal flaw in Azoulay's judgment as he grows closer to a dangerous figure. Their relationship drives the plot toward the eventual staged crime.

Amar and his associates decide to fake a crime to help Azoulay earn a promotion. They believe a staged capture could secure him a contract renewal, reversing his career stagnation. The plan reveals the criminals' manipulation and Azoulay's unwitting involvement.

The criminals choose to steal ritual objects, including a large golden cross, from a nearby monastery. This heist provides the concrete opportunity for Azoulay to confront the criminals in the act and potentially prove himself. The act becomes the test that will decide his fate.

Azoulay manages to catch the criminals in the act, exposing their staged crime. His capture earns him a promotion, and he becomes a sergeant. However, despite this success, the broader job insecurity remains unresolved as his contract was not renewed.

Although promoted to sergeant, Azoulay’s contract is still not renewed, and he is forced to retire from the police. The paradox underscores the bureaucratic cruelty in the system and sets up the story’s poignant ending.

In the final scene, Azoulay exits the precinct with his new rank while Bejerano orders the officers to salute him. He believes they are saluting him, and tears fill his eyes as he returns the gesture. The image lingers as one of Israeli cinema’s most memorable moments.