Eventhonors Jim Jarmusch with the Golden Lion award at a lavish gathering, amidst backdrop of Gaza tensions.
In a stirring turn of events at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, the heart-wrenching film The Voice of Hind Rajab by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania emerged as the festival favourite, winning the jury's grand prize, the silver medal of the competition.
The film, a three-chapter feature about family relations, stars Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Cate Blanchett, and Charlotte Rampling. It tells the story of a six-year-old Palestinian girl named Hind Rajab who tragically lost her life after being trapped for hours in a bullet-ridden car with part of her family. The film received a standing ovation of 22 minutes on Wednesday night.
Jim Jarmusch, director of Father Mother Sister Brother, took home the Golden Lion for best film at the festival. However, few observers expected Jarmusch's latest independent film to be so high on the list. Jarmusch thanked the jury, presided over by Alexander Payne, for appreciating his discreet film. He also wore a pin with the word "Enough" on his lapel at a press conference after the closing ceremony, a silent protest against ongoing conflicts.
Benny Safdie won the best director prize for his solo debut, The Smashing Machine, about former mixed martial arts champion Mark Kerr, played by Dwayne Johnson. Safdie described the film as a "radical empathy exercise."
The ceremony was not just about awards, but also a platform for voices advocating for Palestinian rights. Kaouther Ben Hania, during her acceptance speech, delivered a passionate plea for the liberation of Palestine. She also received a long ovation, having had access to 70 minutes of actual recordings of Hind Rajab's calls to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Maryam Touzani, filmmaker of Calle Málaga, declared her support for Palestine and expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine. Ina Payan, producer of the best film in the Orizzonti section, On the Road, also declared "Long live Palestine!". Anuparna Roy, winner of the best director prize in the Orizzonti section for Songs of Forgotten Trees, also expressed support for Palestinian children's rights.
Nino D'Angelo, a performer at the ceremony, also addressed the fate of Palestinian children. Ana Cristina Barragán, winner of the screenplay prize in the Orizzonti section for The Ivy, called for freedom for Palestinian children.
Gianfranco Rosi won the jury prize for the documentary Sotto le nuvole (Under the Clouds), about the excavations in Pompeii. Valerie Donzelli and Gilles Marchand won the screenplay prize for À pied d'œuvre, a film about the commodification of the economy.
Kaouther Ben Hania hopes that her film, co-produced by Hollywood stars such as Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rooney Mara, will find a distributor in the United States. She believes that the film's powerful message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity will resonate with audiences worldwide.
