For a film-maker, no story is too small or insignificant - as the latest movie by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania will attest. The film, simply titled 'The Voice of Hind Rajab', has captured the world's attention with its powerful portrayal of a five-year-old Palestinian girl who repeatedly called for help before her tragic death.
According to UN estimates, more than 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed in two years of Israeli bombardment of Gaza. The latest incident was particularly disturbing - a car containing six relatives was targeted by an Israeli tank, leaving it with over 335 bullet holes and Hind Rajab among the dead.
Ben Hania heard Hind's voice for the first time while scrolling through social media in Los Angeles airport in February this year. She was immediately drawn to the tragic story behind the recordings and decided to make a film based on them.
"I felt a very strong sense of sadness and helplessness," Ben Hania recalls of her first reaction. "I wondered, 'What can I do?' The only thing I know how to do is make movies."
The outline of the film began to take shape as she researched Hind's final hours, including the fact that clips shared by the Palestine Red Crescent Society were just fragments of the full three-hour recording.
Listening to the entire call, Ben Hania described it as "one of the most difficult things I've heard in my life." Despite knowing how the story ends, she feared her film could fade into obscurity due to its sensitive subject matter.
However, a high-profile group of Hollywood stars - including Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara - stepped in to back the project as executive producers. The film premiered at the Venice film festival where it received a 23-minute standing ovation - the longest in the festival's history.
Ben Hania hopes that 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' will change people's perception of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and remind them of the devastating impact on innocent lives.
"So many children have been killed that we are entering a zone of amnesia and insensitivity," she says. "We're numb, but cinema, literature and art can change things."
According to UN estimates, more than 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed in two years of Israeli bombardment of Gaza. The latest incident was particularly disturbing - a car containing six relatives was targeted by an Israeli tank, leaving it with over 335 bullet holes and Hind Rajab among the dead.
Ben Hania heard Hind's voice for the first time while scrolling through social media in Los Angeles airport in February this year. She was immediately drawn to the tragic story behind the recordings and decided to make a film based on them.
"I felt a very strong sense of sadness and helplessness," Ben Hania recalls of her first reaction. "I wondered, 'What can I do?' The only thing I know how to do is make movies."
The outline of the film began to take shape as she researched Hind's final hours, including the fact that clips shared by the Palestine Red Crescent Society were just fragments of the full three-hour recording.
Listening to the entire call, Ben Hania described it as "one of the most difficult things I've heard in my life." Despite knowing how the story ends, she feared her film could fade into obscurity due to its sensitive subject matter.
However, a high-profile group of Hollywood stars - including Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara - stepped in to back the project as executive producers. The film premiered at the Venice film festival where it received a 23-minute standing ovation - the longest in the festival's history.
Ben Hania hopes that 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' will change people's perception of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and remind them of the devastating impact on innocent lives.
"So many children have been killed that we are entering a zone of amnesia and insensitivity," she says. "We're numb, but cinema, literature and art can change things."
. It's heartbreaking to think about 20,000+ Palestinian kids lost in just two years 
. The fact that a car with 6 relatives was targeted like that is just devastating 
. What can we do?! 
I love how Hollywood stars stepped up to support this project - it's a great reminder that art can be a powerful tool for change 
. Ben Hania's dedication to sharing Hind's story is truly inspiring, and I hope people will watch the film and remember the lives lost in the conflict 
️.
? dont get me wrong, i'm all for raising awareness and stuff, but let's not pretend like this is some kinda publicity stunt 
. ben hania's passion project might actually be making a difference, so kudos to her for that 
I mean, who else could make me feel so much pain and empathy for Hind Rajab? 
It's like she's speaking directly to my heart. And can we talk about the power of Hollywood coming together to support this project?! 
Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rooney Mara are literally the best! 
I'm so glad 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' is getting the recognition it deserves. It's a reminder that even in the darkest times, art can bring light and change our perception. 
it's so emotional 
I mean, can you even imagine hearing a 5-year-old girl's voice for the last time 
I hope it does make people feel something 
I was just thinking about my favorite food truck near my place - they have the best falafel in town! 
You know what's crazy? They use a special seasoning that gives it this amazing flavor. I tried to recreate it at home, but it's just not the same 
... I mean, 20,000+ Palestinian kids lost their lives in 2 yrs & we're still hearing about it? it's like, the world is just not listening 
... I think that's what makes Kaouther Ben Hania's film so powerful - it's not just a story, it's a reminder of these innocent lives being lost to senseless violence 
that maybe, just maybe, art can be a catalyst for change 
. It's like, we've all seen news about the Gaza conflict before, but this film is different - it's personal and emotional 
on YouTube the other day and it completely changed my mood - have you ever noticed how our brains can shift from one thing to another in like 2 seconds? anyway back to the news... 335 bullet holes is crazy 
I feel like we should be focusing on protecting children more than just talking about conflict and stuff - art can definitely inspire change tho 
. We need concrete steps towards peace and an end to the violence in Gaza 
️. This movie is a wake-up call, let's make sure we're all listening 
.
. It's amazing how art can bring attention to things we'd rather ignore 
. It's heartbreaking to think about those 20,000+ Palestinian kids who lost their lives in the past 2 yrs 
. I'm worried that without it, we'll forget about all these innocent lives lost...it's not okay 
and ben hania is right cinema & art can change things, it's our responsibility to use them as tools for empathy & awareness 
. It's like Ben Hania took all the emotions out of me and put them into that 5-year-old girl's voice 
, and this film is like a slap in the face... in the best way possible 
. I'm not gonna lie, it's making me wanna do something (but let's be real, what can one person do? 
the voice of hind rajab is a powerful reminder of what's happening in gaza 
it's heartbreaking to think about all those children who've lost their lives 
20,000+ killed in just 2 yrs of Israeli bombardment of Gaza... that's 10 kids per day. 
The film's premiere at Venice was just the beginning - now it needs to be a movement. Let's get our stats up and share these stories worldwide! 
Did you know that Palestinian children are 6x more likely to die in conflict compared to other kids? 