A powerful film depicting the heartbreaking final moments of a young Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, has received a record-breaking standing ovation at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.

 

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, “The Voice of Hind Rajab” was met with a standing ovation that lasted an astonishing 23 minutes and 50 seconds — the longest in the festival’s history.

 

Instagram Post

 

 

The film centers on the tragic story of 5-year-old Hind, whose final pleas for help during an Israeli attack deeply moved global audiences earlier this year. Her voice, heard from beneath the rubble, became a symbol of unheard suffering in Gaza.

 

“This is not just a film,” said Ben Hania during the post-screening Q&A. “It is the voice buried under the rubble. The voice the world refused to hear.”

 

The film has already been hailed by international critics as “the most important film of the year”, and clips from the screening have gone viral across social media platforms, resonating deeply with audiences around the world.

 

 

“The Voice of Hind Rajab” is being praised not only for its raw emotional power but also for shining a light on the human cost of conflict and the voices that are too often silenced.

 

The film is expected to become a major contender in upcoming international awards circuit.

 

Meanwhile, the story of Hind Rajab is Tunisian — it’s Tunisia’s entry to the Academy Awards this year — but also has Hollywood stars Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara as executive producers alongside filmmakers Alfonso Cuarón and Jonathan Glazer. The American connection did not sit well with many, who called out Hollywood for its complacency.

 

Rajab's mother hoped that the genocide in Gaza would end after the release of the film but the Israeli Defence Forces continue their killing spree in Gaza.