Cannes Palm D’Or nominee Katouther Ben Hania has moved between narrative and documentary work for her past couple of films. For that reason, it is natural for her to bring the two styles together. In The Voice of Hind Rajab, she blends dramatized scenes with actual documented voice recordings and footage from the event in Gaza. Alongside excellent recreations of the actual events, she also puts the viewer in a particular point of view that drives the narrative and delivers the emotional pain that may create action to help others.
Ben Hania’s film depicts the story of two emergency call workers trying to get help for a 6-year-old girl stuck in her family’s car. On January 29, 2024, Omar received a call from a family whose vehicle was in an area that was about to marched on by the Israeli military. Soon, in a car with six people, there was only one living soul: Hind Rajab. Omar and his colleague, Rana, then have to negotiate with the few people who authorize Hind Rajab’s rescue. The result is a depressing and haunting look at Palestinian struggle against an enemy that does not negotiate reasonably and allows innocent lives to hang in the balance.
The most frustrating and naturally depressing part of the film is the danger they face, no matter what action is taken. Omar pleads with anyone who may be able to make it to Hind Rajab to do so because he is being subjected to the real desperation of a girl in an unthinkable situation. Yet, no matter what Omar suggests, there is always some risk, either because of the procedure this Gaza emergency service needs to follow or because of the threat that the Israeli military could treat any rescue mission as an act of hostility and another innocent life would be in danger. They are forced to think of every scenario in which everyone could be safe and Hind Rajab could be safe but none of the first ideas seem to work.
Hind Rajab is an urgent film that is essential, not only for its disclosure of the atrocities happening in Gaza but also for its capturing of the frustration that many of us feel simply being bystanders. As Omar and Hana implore everyone who has even a chance to save her, we are left with a heartbreaking story where an innocent life is on the line and all the character is left to deal with is a complicated political situation. Director Kaouther Ben Hania makes it impossible for us to forget who is involved and who needs help.
Utilizing claustrophobic close-ups and strong dramatic performances in its recreations, the film is a strong piece of classical filmmaking. The zooms and changes in focus keep our eyes engaged as much as our minds with the complications and pressures of what the characters experience. The actors are all very good in their roles, bringing the right level of grounded emotion to a extremely tenuous situation. Saja Kilani and Motaz Malhees, do an excellent job in their roles bringing a realistic dynamic to their relationship and to the way they attack to Hind Rajab.
What makes the film stand out is the smart blending of fiction-filmmaking, documentary voice recordings and footage. Hind Rajab is one of those films that just makes you feel empty inside. The urgent documentary pieces shown at the end of the film become just as urgent, as live footage of someone under threat makes us feel the weight of what the Palestinian people face every day. It is a film that needs all the support it can get so if you want more people to be aware of some of the realities in Gaza through a well-made feature film, this is the one. It should be given the strongest platform possible and speaks to the urgency not only of the situation in Gaza but for anyone innocent caught up in the conquest, “self-defense” or selfish pursuits of war. It may be easy to get emotional about a child in danger but the most extreme of emotions may be the only way for international law and war policy to change in the places where the most innocent are in danger.
The Voice of Hind Rajab is available in theatres on Thursday, December 25th, 2025.
