The Policeman (1971) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Azoulay's superiors, Captain Levkovich and First Sergeant Bejerano, decide not to renew his contract because after twenty years on the force he has never earned a promotion. They feel sorry for him but believe he will never rise in the police hierarchy. His honest and naive nature, while endearing to the community and criminals alike, does not translate to career advancement in a bureaucratic system that values different qualities.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, his inability to earn promotions over two decades foreshadows the institutional decision to end his career.

• azoulay
• police contract
• retirement
• bureaucracy
• promotion

Amar and his criminal associates decide to stage a theft at a monastery to give Azoulay the opportunity to catch them in the act and earn a promotion. Their motivation stems from genuine affection for Azoulay, who treats them with compassion and respect despite his role as a police officer. They believe that if he finally gets a promotion, his contract might be renewed, allowing him to keep his job.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that the criminal underworld prefers Azoulay stays on the force, foreshadowing their later intervention.

• amar
• criminals
• staged crime
• promotion
• monastery

Although Azoulay successfully catches the criminals during the monastery theft and is promoted to sergeant, his contract renewal was already decided before this event. The promotion comes too late, the bureaucratic decision to end his employment had already been made. He achieves the professional recognition he deserves but is still forced out of the force, creating the film's central bittersweet irony.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows the contract decision was made early in the story, before the criminal plan unfolds.

• promotion
• sergeant
• retirement
• bureaucracy
• contract

Azoulay falls in love with Mimi, a prostitute, and removes her photograph from the arrests billboard to protect her from arrest and harassment. This act reveals his personal desires conflicting with his professional duties. He keeps the photo hidden, demonstrating both his affection for her and his awareness that his actions would be problematic if discovered.

Foreshadowing: This decision introduces the theme of Azoulay's private struggles conflicting with his public role as an officer.

• mimi
• prostitute
• arrests billboard
• love
• photo

Azoulay's wife discovers Mimi's photograph on the police billboards and tears it to pieces upon learning of her husband's connection to the prostitute. The discovery represents a breach of trust in their marriage. Azoulay later secretly glues the torn photo back together, showing his attempt to preserve both his marriage and his hidden affection for Mimi.

Foreshadowing: This incident heightens the tension introduced when Azoulay first removed the photo from the billboard.

• wife
• photo
• mimi
• marriage
• tears

Azoulay refuses to divorce his wife, insisting that it would destroy her. This decision reflects his moral code and sense of responsibility, tied to his status as a Kohen (priest descendant) and the principles of Halakha (Jewish law). Even as his marriage lacks warmth or fulfillment, he prioritizes his wife's wellbeing over his own happiness.

Foreshadowing: This decision connects to Azoulay's established character as a man of integrity and religious principle.

• divorce
• wife
• kohen
• halakha
• religious

In the final scene, Azoulay exits the precinct with his new rank while Bejerano orders officers to salute him. Azoulay believes he is being honored for his achievement, and tears fill his eyes as he returns the salute. However, the salute is actually part of routine marching practice, not a tribute to him. This poignant misunderstanding captures the film's bittersweet tone, Azoulay's moment of recognition exists only in his own perception, making the image both touching and heartbreaking.

Foreshadowing: The earlier scene where Azoulay earns his promotion establishes his desperate need for validation from the institution that rejected him.

• salute
• tears
• final scene
• recognition
• farewell

During a visit by French policemen, Azoulay charms them with his manner and fluency in French, demonstrating the charisma and linguistic skill that exist beneath his bumbling exterior. The foreign officers admire him, highlighting his appeal and competence in ways his own superiors fail to recognize. This scene reinforces that Azoulay possesses qualities valued elsewhere, even if the local force overlooks him.

Foreshadowing: This scene establishes Azoulay's ability to connect with people across cultural boundaries.

• french police
• visitors
• admiration
• charm
• language

At an Arab-speaking club house, Azoulay delivers an unintentional speech in Arabic, demonstrating his ability to see people as individuals rather than stereotypes. The moment underscores his broader empathy and cultural understanding, showing that despite his naive nature, he possesses genuine insight into human character that transcends ethnic and social boundaries.

Foreshadowing: This scene reinforces Azoulay's established trait of connecting with people from all walks of life.

• arabic speech
• club house
• empathy
• culture
• understanding

Amar and his associates choose to steal ritual objects, including a large golden cross, from a nearby monastery because it provides a dramatic yet manageable scenario for their staged crime. The theft of religious items creates enough seriousness for Azoulay to earn a meaningful promotion, while the location allows for a clear confrontation where he can catch them in the act.

Foreshadowing: The criminals' plan is designed specifically to create an opportunity that will benefit Azoulay.

• monastery
• golden cross
• ritual objects
• theft
• crime