#REVIEW: “THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

The latest Docu-Drama from Writer-Director Kaouther Ben Hania tells the devastating true story of a 6-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, and the emergency responders who tried to save her.

On January 29, 2024, the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of a Gaza neighbourhood. The Hamada family, only 400 metres from their home, were caught under military fire that left Hind as the only survivor. The young girl’s uncle in Germany connected Hind with the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The volunteer responders took turns speaking to the girl while she hid in the car surrounded by her dead family. The Red Crescent had an ambulance only 8 minutes away from Hind, but there was an intricate system in place to get the ‘green light’, ensuring everyone’s safety. Eight minutes turned into hours.

The Voice of Hind Rajab recreates this emergency as a powerful narrative blending the actual call recordings with scripted re-enactments. These re-enactments are based on first-hand testimonies and transcripts. Ben Hania used a similar style in her successful last feature, Four Daughters. Here, it has a devastating impact. We’re primarily taken into the narrative through the recordings. We hear Hind’s actual voice whose fear increases with each passing moment. It’s gut-wrenching. It’s a technique that Ben Hania uses to a haunting effect by showing the reality behind the dramatization.

The Film plays out as a chamber piece. We never leave the Red Crescent office. We don’t see Hind, only in a photo of her smiling. Never before has a photo had such an emotional impact. In the office, we listen to the young girl’s pleading voice on the phone and watch the emotional effect it has on the volunteers. The Actors were listening to the recordings while the camera rolled. This has brought out visceral and authentic performances from the Cast. You feel the anger, impatience, and helplessness alongside the volunteers. Motaz Malhees and Toronto’s Saja Kilani give heartbreaking performances as real-life Red Crescent volunteers Omar A. Alqam and Rana Hassan Faqih, who spent the most time speaking to Hind.

There will be some who watch The Voice of Hind Rajab knowing the ending, while others won’t. Regardless, the final moments of the Film are captured as they were for those involved at the time. Ben Hania allows us to be hopeful while still holding our breath. When the cruel reality is heard, the Director furthers her blend of reality and drama. Actual video footage is shown on the screen of a phone while we watch the actors match it second by second.

The Voice of Hind Rajab is a devastating Docu-Drama that delivers unflinching honesty. It’s truly one of the finest films of the year.

Mongrel Media release THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB on Thursday, December 25, 2025.