In a move that reflects the convergence of cinema with major humanitarian issues, the film The Voice of Hind Rajab by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania will have its world premiere at the 82nd Venice Film Festival on 3 September, bringing back to the forefront the story of six-year-old Hind Rajab from Gaza, who Israel killed along with her family in January 2024, after her last voice message to Palestinian Red Crescent volunteers bore witness to the tragedy.
The Voice of Hind Rajab: from reality to the screen
The Voice of Hind Rajab is based on real audio recordings of Hind, as she cried for help, saying she was trapped among the bodies of her relatives inside a car in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza, before the call was cut off and she was later found dead. This tragic moment, which reverberated around the world as a symbol of humanity’s failure, has been transformed into a 90-minute fictional drama that combines documentary and art, raising questions of memory and justice.
The film has attracted exceptional support from major Hollywood names, with Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, and Jonathan Glazer joining as executive producers after viewing an early cut of the film. Jemima Khan and Frank Giestra also participated in its production, with institutional support from Film4, MBC, and Brad Pitt’s Plan B.
This presence puts the film in the global spotlight and reflects a clear desire to bring the Palestinian cause to a wider audience through cinema.
Kaouther Ben Hania: cinema in the face of silence
The Tunisian director, who was previously nominated for an Oscar for her films The Man Who Sold His Skin and Four Daughters, is known for her interest in real human stories and her ability to convey them in a visually powerful way. In this film, she pushes the boundaries, drawing on actors such as Saja Kalani, Moataz Melhass, and Clara Khoury, alongside music by Amin Bouhafa, to construct a work that evokes both pain and memory.
In addition to its screening in Venice, The Voice of Hind Rajab will be shown at the Toronto International Film Festival in the “Special Presentations” section on 7 September, followed by screenings at the San Sebastian, Busan, and London film festivals, giving it global critical and popular momentum.
Political and cultural symbolism
The Voice of Hind Rajab release comes at a time of heated debate about the role of culture in confronting war. This year’s Venice Film Festival saw pressure from activists demanding that the crisis in Gaza be highlighted, arguing that cinema cannot be separated from its human context.
In this climate, it becomes more than just a film; it is a cinematic testimony to a crime and a cry against international silence.
The film carries a clear message: that the voice of a child who was unjustly killed can become a tool of resistance, and that cinema can be a forum for holding memory accountable when the law fails.
With the participation of prominent international stars, it becomes difficult for the world to turn its back on The Voice of Hind Rajab, which may go down as one of the most notable cinematic works related to the Palestinian cause in the history of international film festivals.
You can support the Hind Rajab Foundation here.
Featured image supplied
