The Human Resources Manager 2011

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.”