“The Voice of Hind Rajab,” a harrowing new film depicting the final moments of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed during an Israeli assault on Gaza, received a 23-minute standing ovation following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday.
Directed by acclaimed Franco-Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the film moved much of the audience — including journalists — to tears, with critics calling it “the most powerful and urgent entry of this year’s festival.”
The film reconstructs the chilling final phone call made by Hind Rajab, who in January 2024 was trapped in a car in northern Gaza after an Israeli strike. Surrounded by the bodies of her uncles and young cousins, Hind — the only survivor — called the Palestinian Red Crescent for help while hiding beneath a seat.
She was later killed, along with the medics who tried to reach her. To date, the Israeli military has not launched a formal investigation into the incident.
At a press conference before the premiere, Ben Hania emphasized the importance of humanizing the victims of war.
“We’ve seen that the global narrative often reduces those dying in Gaza to collateral damage,” she said. “I think this is deeply dehumanizing. That’s why cinema, art — all forms of expression — are crucial in giving these people a voice and a face.”
