The film, which is competing for the Golden Lion award, has received widespread acclaim from critics and audiences, who gave a standing ovation to its creators in a moving moment, according to Al Sharq. The film blends original audio recordings with reenactments to tell the story of Hind Rajab, who pleaded for hours over the phone to be rescued by association paramedics after her uncle, aunt, and three cousins were killed in an airstrike targeting their car. Although the paramedics received permission to send an ambulance, communication was lost after they arrived, as they were also killed in an airstrike targeting their vehicle.
The film has received notable global support, with Hollywood stars like Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rooney Mara participating as executive producers, attending the press conference to affirm their support. When Ben Hania was asked if this support reflects “Israel’s loss of the cultural battle,” she replied, “I hope this presence has meaning, as cinema is a powerful tool for justice for the victims.”
Hind’s voice, which spread across social media, sparked a wave of global outrage and solidarity, echoing in student protests at American universities. The film is set to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival and has been selected to represent Tunisia in the Oscar race for Best International Film.
Israel continues its war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, and despite Arab and international mediation efforts and opposing voices within Israel, Netanyahu’s government insists on continuing the fight. Recently, it announced its approval of a plan to take control of Gaza City, which international warnings indicate will lead to a humanitarian disaster, exacerbating the suffering of the sector’s residents, with the war having killed about 60,000 people and injured about 163,000 others.
