‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ re-creates a rescue mission with the real pleas of a terrified girl

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Kaouther Ben Hania’s film, “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” tells the heartbreaking story of attempts to rescue a young Palestinian girl caught in the devastating war in Gaza. The film is incredibly difficult to watch, especially knowing the outcome – which was widely reported at the time. Despite the tireless efforts of emergency workers with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, the rescue, attempted on January 29, 2024, unfortunately failed.

This film aims to recapture a sense of shared humanity, something often lost in a news cycle focused on quick headlines and numbers. Director Ben Hania combines the style of documentary filmmaking with the heartbreaking reality of a tragic event: the actual audio of six-year-old Hind Rajab, desperately calling for help while trapped in a car under attack.

The film recreates events as they happened, based on a 70-minute emergency call. We hear the call – filled with desperate pleas – as actors portray Red Crescent workers racing against bureaucracy to get an ambulance to the caller. Throughout the film, their efforts are interwoven with the faint, frightened voice on the line. It’s devastating to fully grasp the caller, Hind Rajab’s, growing realization that she was trapped in a car surrounded by her deceased family.

Awards

Palestinian films and stories are often recognized with awards. This year, ‘All That’s Left of You,’ ‘Palestine 36,’ and ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ stand out as particularly strong contenders, especially given current events.

Tension is building inside the call center. Omar, who answers the initial call, becomes increasingly angry, and clashes with his calm supervisor, Mahdi, over strict procedures required by the Red Cross and the Ministry of Health. Mahdi, haunted by the memory of responders killed on unauthorized missions – their photos displayed on a wall as a stark warning – refuses to risk anyone else, even for a rescue that seems quick and straightforward.

Omar’s coworkers, Rana and Nisreen, help keep young Hind Rajab calm by treating her as if they’re another family looking out for her. However, this well-intentioned approach unintentionally makes it harder for the dispatchers to stay composed themselves.

This film is a raw and impactful exploration of human connection. While the director often focuses intensely on emotional close-ups – sometimes to a fault – it’s clearly a unique and deeply painful story. The central recording serves as a powerful reminder of real emotion, but the limited setting unfortunately hinders the actors, making it apparent they are performing within a tragic situation.

I was deeply moved by Ben Hania’s latest film. Like his previous work, it blends reality and fiction, but this time it’s different – it doesn’t explore a tragedy as it unfolds, but rather looks back on one that’s already happened. It feels less like a story and more like a memorial, a powerful reminder of why certain things matter. Honestly, sometimes the film feels a little rough around the edges, but I almost think it shouldn’t be perfect. With hate speech becoming so common, this film, “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” centers the voice of someone we’ve lost, and I think that’s incredibly important, even if it’s not flawless.

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2025-12-18 22:31