"The Voice of Hind Rajab" Resonates at Venice Festival: A Touching Tribute and Palestinian Support in the World of Cinema

The Venice Film Festival witnessed an extraordinary and deeply moving reception for "The Voice of Hind Rajab," a film by the talented Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania. The film, which is Tunisia's entry for the 98th Academy Awards, received a standing ovation from the audience that lasted for more than 20 minutes, the longest of any film at the festival to date. The screening hall was filled with chants of "Free Palestine," accompanied by tears from the attendees, in a scene that reflected the profound impact of the human story the film tells.

The film's plot centers on the tragic story of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl trapped in a car under occupation fire in Gaza. On January 29, 2024, Red Crescent volunteers receive an emergency call from Hind, who pleads for help. As they try to keep her on the line, they make a desperate effort to send an ambulance to rescue her.

Before the screening, the entire film crew showed their deep support for the Palestinian cause by walking the red carpet holding a photo of Hind Rajab, who was later killed. They were joined by global stars Joaquin Phoenix and actress Rooney Mara, who were seen wearing pins in full support of Palestine.

At the press conference that preceded the screening, director Kaouther Ben Hania and the cast were received with a warm and extensive round of applause from journalists and critics. The lead actress, Saja Kilani, began her speech with emotional words: "Isn't this enough? Isn't the mass killing, the starvation, the marginalization, the destruction, and the ongoing occupation enough?"

For his part, actor Moataz Malhees spoke about his personal experience, saying he lived through similar events in his childhood in Jenin, in the West Bank. He added, "When I heard Hind's voice, I felt like I was back in my childhood. It wasn't easy; I felt like I died a thousand times."

The film has garnered significant support from international stars and directors, with Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, and Jonathan Glazer joining as executive producers. Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner from Brad Pitt's "Plan B" production company are also involved. Notable figures like journalist Jemima Khan, businessman Frank Giustra, and jewelry designer Sabine Getty also joined the project as executive producers.

The film is set to continue its global cinematic tour, with screenings scheduled at the Toronto International Film Festival, the official competition of the BFI London Film Festival, the San Sebastián Festival, and the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea.

In a conversation with Deadline, director Ben Hania revealed what motivated her to produce the film in such a short period. "This project had a special glow, something immediate and alive. I never imagined I could finish a film in just 12 months." She added that she heard the audio recording of Hind Rajab pleading for help while at Los Angeles International Airport and felt "a mix of helplessness and immense sadness... This pain, this failure, belongs to all of us. This story is not just about Gaza. It expresses a grief that transcends geographical borders."

Ben Hania emphasized that cinema has the power to "preserve memory and resist forgetting," especially when its story is based on real and painful events.