The Voice of Hind Rajab: Gaza Drama Makes History at Venice Film Festival with Record-Breaking Ovation
Historic Reception at Venice Film Festival
The docu-drama ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab,’ which recounts the final plea of a six-year-old Gaza girl, has made history at the Venice Film Festival by receiving the longest standing ovation in the festival’s history – lasting more than 23 minutes. The emotional premiere was marked by tears, chants of ‘Free, Free Palestine’ and the waving of Palestinian flags.
Hollywood Support and Production Details
The film has garnered significant Hollywood support, with Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rooney Mara joining as executive producers. Other notable figures backing the project include Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner of Plan B, ‘The Zone of Interest’ director Jonathan Glazer, and ‘Roma’ filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón.
The Story Behind the Film
The film is based on the tragic events of January 29, 2024, when six-year-old Hind Rajab was trapped in a car in Gaza after Israeli tank fire killed her relatives. The Palestine Red Crescent Society remained on the line with the child for more than an hour as she pleaded for rescue.
The documentary’s cinematography, by Juan Sarmiento G., creates a claustrophobic atmosphere within the call center, where calls from Gaza residents trapped or under attack stream in continuously. The audio used is authentic, taken from Red Crescent archives, establishing a genuine atmosphere of mounting tension.
Director’s Vision and Approach
Director Kaouther Ben Hania explained that she aimed to counter the media narrative of deaths in Gaza as mere ‘collateral damage.’ She emphasized the importance of cinema and art in humanizing these stories, stating, ‘That’s why cinema, art and every kind of expression is very important to give those people a voice and face.’
International Recognition
Tunisia has selected ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ as its candidate for best international feature at the Oscars. Ben Hania already holds two Oscar nominations for her previous works, including best documentary for ‘Four Daughters’ and best international feature for ‘The Man Who Sold His Skin.’
As Ben Hania powerfully noted about the film’s creation, ‘What is happening in this story and in Gaza in general, is something that is beyond fiction. I didn’t have to invent anything, which is crazy.’
