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Haunting Docudrama Captivates Audiences at Kolkata Film Festival
13 Nov
Summary
- Powerful docudrama on 2024 Gaza tragedy receives standing ovation at Venice Film Festival
- Screening leaves many viewers "numb" and unable to watch other films
- Film considered the "centrepiece" of KIFF's "Beyond Borders" segment
The 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) has been marked by the powerful impact of Kaouther Ben Hania's docudrama "The Voice of Hind Rajab". The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2025, has captivated audiences at KIFF with its haunting portrayal of a real-life tragedy that unfolded in Gaza in 2024.
The film reconstructs the final recorded phone calls between a terrified five-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, and the Red Crescent workers who tried to negotiate an international rescue protocol before they, too, were killed. The screening at KIFF has left many viewers deeply affected, with the pindrop silence followed by sniffles a stark contrast to the 25-minute standing ovation the film received in Venice.
One of the film's executive producers, Lina Chaabane Menzli, who is also part of KIFF's international jury, acknowledges the powerful impact the film has had. She notes that many viewers consider "The Voice of Hind Rajab" to be the must-see film of the festival's newly launched "Beyond Borders: Displacement, Migration..." segment. The film's final screening at KIFF's closing day is highly anticipated, as word has spread that this is not just a film, but an experience that stays with the viewer long after the lights dim.
