In the poignant film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” premiered at the Venice Film Festival, the harrowing final cries of a five-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a car under Israeli attack are brought to life.
Saja Kilani, one of the actors, emphasized the film’s impact, stating, “Hind’s story embodies the suffering of an entire nation.” She delivered this message on behalf of the cast and crew.
The film, based on a true story, highlights the efforts of Palestinian Red Crescent Society operators who tried for hours to calm Hind Rajab, trapped in a car where her aunt, uncle, and three cousins lay dead.
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Throughout the film, the original recordings of Hind’s desperate pleas to dispatchers are used to powerful effect. “I’m so scared, please come,” the little girl implores.
Kilani remarked, “How can we allow a child to beg for life? Peace is impossible as long as even one child must plead for survival. Let Hind Rajab’s voice resonate globally.”
After a three-hour wait, the Red Crescent was finally permitted by Israel to send an ambulance. However, contact with Hind and the rescuers was lost just as the ambulance arrived at the scene.
Days later, the bodies of Hind and her relatives were found in the car, along with the remains of the two ambulance workers in their destroyed vehicle.
The Israel Defence Forces initially claimed they were not within firing range. However, independent investigations disputed this, and a subsequent U.N. report confirmed the IDF had destroyed Rajab’s car and killed the medics.
This week, the IDF stated the January 29, 2024, incident is still under review, offering no further comments.
Standing ovation
The film received a standing ovation at its press screening, hinting it could be a front-runner for the Golden Lion award, which will be announced on September 6.
Watch the video posted on Instagram by Variety.
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The film is also backed by Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rooney Mara, enhancing its industry appeal.
Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, who penned the screenplay, explained that Hind’s voice symbolizes more than a single tragedy.
“Hearing Hind’s voice for the first time was transformative. It wasn’t just her voice; it was the voice of Gaza calling for help. This film was born out of anger and helplessness,” Ben Hania shared with the media.
The IDF initiated an invasion of the Gaza Strip following an attack by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. According to Gaza health officials, over 63,000 people have died in the ongoing conflict.
Ben Hania added, “The global narrative that Gaza’s casualties are mere collateral damage is dehumanizing. Art and cinema give voice and identity to these people. We assert: enough of this genocide.” This week, the world’s largest association of genocide scholars declared that the legal criteria for genocide in Gaza have been met, a claim Israel denies.
The actors portraying the Red Crescent dispatchers only heard Rajab’s recordings on set, making the filming process deeply emotional.
Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees confessed, “Twice, I had panic attacks and couldn’t continue filming.”
