Gaza's grand festival is celebrated, bolstered by Hollywood's backing
In the heart of the Venice Film Festival, a powerful documentary drama has made its debut, marking a significant moment for the Gaza conflict as it takes center stage at an A-list event. "The Voice of Hind Rajab," directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, tells the final moments of Palestinian girl Hind Rajab's life in the Gaza Strip.
The film, which is part of the competition at the festival, captures real phone recordings of Hind Rajab's pleas for help before she was found dead along with her family, 12 days later. The recordings, including a phone call to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society for about three hours, provide a harrowing account of the events that unfolded.
The film and several independent investigations suggest that Hind Rajab and parts of her family were killed by Israeli forces. However, the Israeli military denies carrying out the attack and states that no troops were present at the time. Israel and the German government reject the genocide accusation, with the Israeli military claiming to aim at dismantling the Islamist terror organization Hamas, not the destruction of the Palestinian people.
Kaouther Ben Hania prefaced her film with the note: "This dramatization is based on true events." The director of the German premiere of "In The Hand of Dante," a historical thriller directed by Julian Schnabel, chose the actors for their acting abilities and not for their political views. Julian Schnabel, who is American, declined to comment further on "Hind Rajab" and the debate surrounding the Gaza conflict.
Joaquin Phoenix and his partner Rooney Mara walked the red carpet with the film team for "The Voice of Hind Rajab." Other actors in the film, such as Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler, have publicly expressed their views on the conflict in the past. Gal Gadot, for example, had previously expressed solidarity with Israeli victims following the Hamas terror attack in October 2023.
The premiere of "In The Hand of Dante," also directed by Schnabel, was scheduled after "The Voice of Hind Rajab." Neither Gadot nor Butler were expected to attend the Venice Film Festival, and their management did not respond to requests for comment.
The film's team expressed their grief over Hind Rajab's fate and made a political appeal during the Venice press conference. Kaouther Ben Hania, along with several actors, accused Israel of committing genocide in its fight against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to the UN Convention, genocide refers to the intent to destroy a population group, and Israel claims to aim at dismantling the Islamist terror organization Hamas, not the destruction of the Palestinian people.
"The Voice of Hind Rajab" serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict and a call for justice for those affected by it. The film's debut at the Venice Film Festival underscores the importance of using art as a platform for raising awareness and fostering dialogue about critical global issues.
