Acclaimed Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania has created one of the year’s most emotionally powerful films with ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab,’ which recently premiered at Dubai’s Cinema Akil. The project originated from the devastating real-life story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a car with her deceased relatives during Gaza conflict, desperately calling rescue workers while awaiting help that would never arrive.
In an exclusive interview following the Dubai screening, Ben Hania revealed the profound emotional impetus behind the film. ‘When I first encountered Hind’s voice recording on social media, I experienced an overwhelming sense of helplessness,’ the filmmaker confessed. ‘This emotional response transformed into a creative imperative—I recognized cinema’s unique capacity to honor individual tragedy amidst statistical overwhelming loss.’
The director made two crucial artistic decisions that define the film’s distinctive approach. Rather than recreating Gaza’s battlefield directly, Ben Hania adopted the perspective of Palestinian Red Crescent rescue workers in Ramallah, physically distant yet emotionally connected to the unfolding horror. Secondly, she incorporated the authentic audio recordings of Hind’s final conversations, creating what she describes as ‘a confrontational film intended to prevent audiences from looking away.’
Addressing ethical concerns about using real tragedy as artistic material, Ben Hania emphasized her thorough consultation with Hind’s family. ‘I obtained explicit consent from her mother, who saw the project as potential justice for her daughter,’ the director noted. ‘This collaboration ensured the film maintained both artistic integrity and profound respect for its subject.’
The production proved emotionally taxing for all involved, particularly Palestinian cast members who channeled personal connections to the material. Ben Hania described the process as ‘placing our art in service of our stories,’ acknowledging the privilege of creating cinema about trauma from a position of safety.
Currently serving as Tunisia’s official Oscar submission and having reached the 15-film shortlist, ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ represents more than awards ambition. For Ben Hania, whose career has focused on Arab world narratives despite lucrative English-language opportunities, the film embodies cinema’s highest purpose: giving voice to the voiceless and ensuring marginalized stories achieve global resonance through artistic excellence.