A Palestinian Drama Backed by Some of Cinema’s Greatest Voices
Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, and Jonathan Glazer have joined the project The Voice of Hind Rajab / La voix de Hind Rajab as executive producers. This overwhelming support from major Hollywood figures elevates the film by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, already a two-time Oscar nominee, to a major event at the Venice Film Festival. More than a gesture of solidarity, it is an artistic and political commitment that places the fate of little Hind Rajab at the heart of global cinema’s concerns.
An essential voice in contemporary Arab cinema, Kaouther Ben Hania has established herself internationally with The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020), nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Film, and Four Daughters / Les filles d’Olfa (2023), in contention for the Best Documentary Oscar. Her new film, which recounts the final hours of the six-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza in January 2024, will have its world premiere on September 3 in Venice. Through its radical approach—filming in a single location and using the real audio recording of Hind’s call for help as the central narrative thread—The Voice of Hind Rajab presents itself as a work of universal memory, a cry now amplified by some of the most influential voices in the industry.
A Voice That Will Not Be Silenced
Hind Rajab, six, died in Gaza in January 2024 after being trapped in a bombed car, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of her family. Her final call to the Palestinian Red Crescent, recorded and shared online, still resonates as a cry of helplessness. Kaouther Ben Hania recounted how profoundly this moment affected her own journey:
“Then everything changed. I heard an audio recording of Hind Rajab begging for help. By that moment, her voice had already spread online,” she said. “I immediately felt a mixture of helplessness and immense sadness. A physical reaction, as if the ground had collapsed beneath my feet. I could no longer continue as planned.”
Filmed in a single location, the movie avoids spectacular reenactments to focus on the child’s fear, silence, and solitude. “The Voice of Hind Rajab is a deeply personal story of loss, but it also has a wider resonance. This story is not just about Gaza. It bears witness to universal grief. Cinema can preserve memory. Cinema can resist amnesia. May Hind Rajab’s voice be heard.”
When Hollywood Takes a Stand
The film’s power has convinced true giants of international cinema to join as executive producers. Brad Pitt and his company Plan B—alongside partners Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner—head this unprecedented support. Their banner has previously backed Oscar-winning films such as 12 Years a Slave, Moonlight, and The Tree of Life.
Joining them, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara, Hollywood figures known for their artistic and political engagement, lend their fame and conviction. Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Roma) adds his aura as a universally respected auteur. Finally, Jonathan Glazer, who received the 2024 Oscar for Best International Film for The Zone of Interest, brings a singular political and memorial depth to the project.
Jonathan Glazer: A Thematic Resonance
With The Zone of Interest, Glazer had shocked audiences with his portrayal of the banality of evil on the margins of the Holocaust. Upon receiving his Oscar, he stated:
“Our film shows where dehumanization leads in its worst consequences. It has shaped our past and present. Today, here we are—men denying their Jewishness and the Shoah, diverted by an occupation that has caused suffering for so many innocents.”
These remarks sparked controversy, with some accusing him of anti-Semitism. But an open letter signed by over 150 Jewish figures, including Joaquin Phoenix, defended the filmmaker and denounced the unfair attack, emphasizing that attention should focus on the ongoing tragedy in Gaza. By joining Kaouther Ben Hania’s project, Jonathan Glazer continues his reflection on memory, dehumanization, and the necessity of bearing witness.
An International Production
Alongside these major figures, other influential personalities have joined: Jemima Khan, Frank Giustra, Sabine Getty, as well as renowned producers such as Odessa Rae (Navalny), James Wilson (The Zone of Interest), and Nadim Cheikhrouha, a long-time collaborator of Ben Hania. The project has also received support from Sunnyland, Geralyn Dreyfous, Jorie Graham, Amed Khan, Rambourg, the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Watermelon, Sawsan Asfari, 1888 Films, the Doha Film Institute, and Barc Productions.
The cast includes Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Clara Khoury, and Amer Hlehel. International sales are handled by The Party Film Sales and CAA.
A Film Already Destined to Make an Impact
Alberto Barbera, director of the Venice Film Festival, has already presented The Voice of Hind Rajab as one of the most powerful works of this 82nd edition. Competing for the Golden Lion, the film will face Frankenstein by Guillermo del Toro, No Other Choice by Park Chan-wook, and A House of Dynamite by Kathryn Bigelow.
The film’s journey will not stop in Venice: it is already slated for Toronto, San Sebastián, Busan, and London, confirming its status as a true global event.
A Festival Under Political Tension
Meanwhile, the political climate already surrounds the festival. Hundreds of Italian and international artists—including Ken Loach, Italian actor Toni Servillo, French directors Céline Sciamma and Audrey Diwan, and the Palestinian duo Arab Nasser and Tarzan Nasser—have signed an open letter urging the festival to condemn what they describe as genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
Neïla Driss
