Film About Palestinian Girl’s Desperate Plea Was a ‘Way to Not Feel Helpless’, Says Director
The Heartbreaking Story Behind The Voice of Hind Rajab
They’re shooting at me. Please come get me. I’m scared. These chilling words echo from a phone call made by Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl pleading for help under siege in Gaza City in 2024. Filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania immediately felt compelled to share this tragic narrative upon hearing the recording.
– The Tunisian two-time Oscar nominee paused her upcoming project to focus on Hind’s story, who tragically lost her life amid the chaos, alongside family members and aid workers.
– Ben Hania explains, “It haunted me. I was angry, sad, and felt helpless. I hate feeling helpless. As a filmmaker, I decided I could use my craft to tell this story.
Documenting the Tragedy: The Voice of Hind Rajab
The film, released in UK theaters last Friday, centers on the harrowing events surrounding Hind’s final moments.
– Hind’s car was struck by suspected Israeli fire during their attempt to escape the bombings. While she managed to answer a callback from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, tragically, both her family and the ambulance crew lost their lives as an attack unfolded.
– Initial reports from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied any troop presence in that region, but independent investigations by organizations such as Forensic Architecture and journalists from Al Jazeera revealed evidence of Israeli tank fire affecting both the car and ambulance.
Cinematic Empathy: Bridging Reality and Drama
Ben Hania’s docudrama aims to deliver an emotional narrative, intertwining the real audio of Hind’s desperate calls with dramatized portrayals of the Red Crescent volunteers in Ramallah.
– The film is crafted in both Arabic and English, emphasizing Ben Hania’s commitment to truth and the genuine experiences of those involved.
– She believes that while the evidence provided by investigations is crucial, cinema has a unique power to provoke empathy: “At some point, with all this proof, I thought, we are done explaining. Cinema can do something better.”
Emotional Responses and Critical Reception
Critics have lauded the film for its emotional depth and narrative approach.
– Variety’s Guy Lodge remarked on the film’s moving nature while pondering the ethical implications of merging documentary and drama.
– The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin praised Ben Hania’s philosophical approach, stating: I dreaded watching this film… but I find my mind changed.
The film stars an ensemble of Palestinian actors, and Ben Hania sought to respect the experiences depicted, gaining approval from Hind’s mother, Wesam, before moving forward.
Capturing the Voices of the Helpless
Ben Hania’s key objective was to ensure that Hind’s voice resonates with audiences around the world.
– “The world doesn’t want to hear it. It’s not a comfortable thing to face. It was important to honor her voice and make it resonate beyond borders,” she expressed.
– To amplify the film’s reach, notable Hollywood figures like Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix joined as executive producers, creating a bridge between mainstream cinema and this pressing narrative.
A Call to Action
The Voice of Hind Rajab is more than a film; it is an urgent call to reflect on reality amid ongoing conflict.
– The film recently garnered a record-breaking 23-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, affirming its universal message of solidarity and awareness.
– “This isn’t a feel-good movie; it’s essential we don’t look away. This is history in the making,” Ben Hania emphasizes.
Available now in UK cinemas, The Voice of Hind Rajab seeks not just to tell Hind’s story but to ensure her voice continues to echo, prompting viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about the ongoing struggles in Gaza.