Gaza-focused movie spearheaded by Brad Pitt gains spotlight
The Venice International Film Festival is no stranger to controversy, and this year is no exception. Two films, "The Voice of Hind Rajab" and "In The Hand of Dante," have caused a stir, with the former being co-produced by Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix and the latter directed by Julian Schnabel.
"The Voice of Hind Rajab," a documentary drama, tells the final moments in the life of Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in the Gaza Strip, who died in January 2024 during her family's attempt to flee the city. The film and several independent investigations suggest that Hind Rajab and parts of her family were killed by Israeli forces. Israel and the German government, however, reject the genocide accusation, stating that their actions are aimed at dismantling the Islamic terrorist organization Hamas, not destroying the Palestinian people.
Kaouther Ben Hania, the director of "The Voice of Hind Rajab," accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. At the film's press conference, several actors also made similar accusations. The film team expressed their condolences for Hind Rajab and made a political appeal.
"In The Hand of Dante," a historical thriller, was planned to premiere after "The Voice of Hind Rajab." The film, which stars Israeli actor Gal Gadot and British actor Gerard Butler, was targeted by pro-Palestinian activists for exclusion due to their support for Israel. Director Julian Schnabel chose Gadot and Butler for their acting ability and stated that there is no reason to boycott artists.
However, Gadot did not attend the premiere of "In The Hand of Dante" on September 3, 2025, despite being one of the main cast members. She chose to stay home, and her management did not respond to inquiries regarding her absence. Butler was also not expected to attend the Venice Film Festival.
The Israeli military denies carrying out the attack that killed Hind Rajab and states that there were no troops in the area at the time. The rescuers, who were on their way after hours of coordination, were reportedly killed as well.
The Gaza conflict is causing disruptions at the Venice Film Festival, with many films facing cancellations and protests. Director Julian Schnabel declined to comment on the controversy surrounding "The Voice of Hind Rajab" and the Gaza conflict at the festival.
The film "In The Hand of Dante" is part of the competition and is due to premiere on Wednesday. The premiere details for the film were not provided. The premiere of "The Voice of Hind Rajab" took place on September 3, 2025, but the connection to Hind was lost, and she was later found dead along with her family and the medics, 12 days later. The controversy surrounding these two films promises to continue to dominate discussions at the Venice Film Festival.
