In a poignant fusion of real-life tragedy and cinematic artistry, the docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab has captivated the world stage, premiering at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2025, to an unprecedented 23-minute standing ovation—the longest in the festival’s history.
Directed by acclaimed Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the film shines a harrowing spotlight on the final hours of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, whose desperate pleas for help amid Israeli gunfire in Gaza became a symbol of the conflict’s devastating human cost.
Backed by Hollywood heavyweights including Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Jonathan Glazer, and Alfonso Cuarón as executive producers, this 89-minute Arabic-language feature not only competes for the prestigious Golden Lion but has also been selected as Tunisia’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
The film’s announcement on August 29, 2025, that Pitt, Phoenix, and Mara had joined Glazer and Cuarón as executive producers marked a significant escalation in its profile, drawing attention from global media and igniting discussions on the intersection of celebrity activism and geopolitical storytelling.
Produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha under his Mime Films and Tanit Films banners, alongside James Wilson and Odessa Rae, The Voice of Hind Rajab employs a minimalist yet gripping style: shot entirely in a single location, it weaves real audio recordings of Hind’s phone calls as its central narrative thread, emphasizing the suffocating tension, eerie silences, and escalating terror of a child abandoned to her fate.
Starring young actors Saja Kilani and Motaz Malhees, the docufiction format blends dramatized reenactments with documentary elements, creating an immersive experience that has left audiences in tears and prompted chants of “Free Palestine” during its Venice screening.
The Tragic Real-Life Story Behind the Film
At the heart of The Voice of Hind Rajab is the gut-wrenching ordeal of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl (though some reports cite her as six) from Gaza City, whose death on January 29, 2024, encapsulated the horrors of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Amid Israel’s military operations in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, Hind and her family—her uncle Bashar Hamada, his wife, and their four children, including 15-year-old cousin Layan Hamada—were attempting to flee the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in a black Kia Picanto.
As they navigated the chaotic streets near a petrol station, their vehicle came under heavy fire from Israeli forces, killing everyone inside except Hind and initially Layan.
Trapped in the bullet-riddled car surrounded by her dead relatives, Hind made a frantic call to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) around 2:30 p.m., her voice trembling as she described the scene: “The tank is next to me… It’s coming toward me… I’m so scared, please come.” Layan, also on the line briefly, reported being shot before the call went silent amid gunfire.
For over three hours, Hind remained on the phone with PRCS dispatchers, her pleas growing more desperate: “Please come and take me. Will you come and take me?” She spoke of hiding from tanks, the encroaching darkness, and her overwhelming fear.
See photos of Hind Rajab below:
In a bid to rescue her, the PRCS coordinated with Israeli authorities and dispatched an ambulance crewed by paramedics Yousef Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun. Tragically, the ambulance was targeted upon arrival, its charred remains later found near Hind’s car.
Forensic investigations, including one by Forensic Architecture, revealed over 355 bullet holes in Hind’s vehicle, suggesting intense and sustained fire from Israeli tanks positioned nearby.
Hind’s body, along with those of her family and the paramedics, was discovered on February 10, 2024, after Israeli forces withdrew from the area. UN experts have labeled the incident a potential war crime, highlighting the deliberate targeting of civilians and rescuers.
Hind’s story quickly went viral, with her audio recordings—released by the PRCS—sparking international outrage and memorials worldwide.
It underscored the broader toll on Gaza’s children: Over 23,000 Palestinian minors have been killed since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, amid accusations of indiscriminate attacks and blockades leading to starvation and medical crises.
The Hind Rajab Foundation, established in her memory, continues to advocate for child protection in conflict zones.
From Inspiration to Screen: The Visionaries Behind the Lens
Kaouther Ben Hania, an Oscar-nominated director known for films like The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020), was moved to create The Voice of Hind Rajab after hearing the recordings, viewing it as a urgent call to humanize the Palestinian experience.
“This is not just a story of one child; it’s a mirror to the world’s silence,” Ben Hania stated in Venice, condemning the “dehumanization” in Gaza.
The film’s executive producers bring star power and a history of social advocacy: Phoenix and Mara, partners in life and activism, attended the premiere, while Glazer (director of The Zone of Interest) and Cuarón (Roma) lend their Oscar-winning credentials.
Pitt’s involvement, through his Plan B Entertainment, adds commercial heft, potentially boosting its awards-season buzz.
Critics have hailed the film as “crushing and emotive,” praising its provocative docufiction style that forces viewers to confront the raw audio without visual sensationalism. “It’s fierce, urgent, and heart-shattering,” noted one review, emphasizing how it transforms passive listening into active empathy.
Venice Reception and Broader Implications
The Venice premiere was electric: Attendees, including Phoenix and Mara, witnessed a theater erupt in applause, with many in tears and embracing one another.
The 23-minute ovation surpassed previous records, fueling hopes for wider distribution despite the film’s critical stance on Israel, which has historically complicated U.S. releases for similar works. Chants of “Free Palestine” echoed through the sala, blending art with activism.
As the Israel-Gaza conflict persists—marked by over 63,000 Palestinian deaths and ongoing humanitarian crises—The Voice of Hind Rajab arrives at a pivotal moment.
It joins a growing canon of films addressing the Palestinian plight, such as Farha (2021) and Omar (2013), challenging audiences to grapple with uncomfortable truths.
While no U.S. distributor has been secured yet, Ben Hania remains optimistic, stating the film aims to “reach a global audience and spark change.”
In an era where stories like Hind’s risk being forgotten amid endless news cycles, this film serves as a powerful reminder: One child’s voice can echo across the world, demanding justice and humanity.
As Venice buzz builds toward the Oscars, The Voice of Hind Rajab stands poised to amplify that cry even further.
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