Blending documentary and fiction to portray the war in Gaza: 'The Voice of Hind Rajab'

Cinema has the unique ability to confront humanity's darkest tragedies, both past and present. Over the years, numerous films have examined the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yet, when it comes to Israels ongoing assault on Gaza, fictional storytelling is only beginning to catch up with the stark reality.

Part of the reason lies in the short timeframe. It has been just over two years since Israel launched its sustained offensive on Gaza following the October 7 attacks, while creating a feature film often takes much longer. Additionally, the sheer magnitude of the crisis may challenge the limits of fictional narrative. According to Gazas health ministry, over 70,000 Palestinians have died, while the UN reports that around 1.9 million peoplenearly 90% of the populationhave been displaced. A UN report in September labeled Israel's actions as genocidal. The scale of human suffering can make fictional representation daunting, especially in real time.

Among recent international fiction films on the topic, only Nadav Lapids Yes directly addresses the post-October 7 context, though it primarily focuses on Israeli society. Documentaries have largely taken the lead in revealing Gaza's ongoing tragedies. Notable examples include The Bibi Files, exploring Benjamin Netanyahus political maneuvers amid the war, and Sepideh Farsis Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, which premiered at Cannes shortly after an Israeli airstrike killed its protagonist, Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna. Hlne Lam Trongs Inside Gaza presents firsthand accounts from Palestinian AFP journalists documenting the conflict on the ground.

The most striking cinematic testimony of the war, however, comes from The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film that seamlessly merges documentary and fiction. Premiering at the Venice International Film Festival in September, the French-Tunisian docu-fiction by Kaouther Ben Hania won the Grand Jury Prize. It follows the Red Crescent as they respond to an emergency call from five-year-old Hind Rajab, trapped in a car in northern Gaza while her family members are killed by Israeli soldiers.

The films onscreen message clarifies that it is based on real events: on January 29, 2024, Hind, her relatives, and two Red Crescent paramedics were killed by Israeli forces. An investigation by Forensic Architecture confirmed that 335 bullets were fired at the car. Ben Hania combines actors portraying Red Crescent workers with authentic recordings of Hinds calls and rescue attempts, creating a chilling blend of reality and dramatization. The audience experiences the terror primarily through sound and emotional intensity rather than direct depictions of violence.

At times, the voices of real Red Crescent members intertwine with the actors performances, and the director even overlays genuine footage onto reenacted scenes. The film refrains from exaggerating the tragedy, instead utilizing narrative techniques, dynamic camera work, and compelling performances to heighten the impact of true events.

Backed by high-profile executive producers including Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarn, and Jonathan Glazer, the film demonstrates how fiction and documentary can jointly portray realities that are otherwise almost impossible to express. Ben Hania has emphasized that fiction drawn from verified, painful events can preserve memory and resist societal forgetfulness, making cinema a profound medium for witnessing and remembering.

The Voice of Hind Rajab is now showing in theaters, with a continued rollout scheduled for 2026, offering audiences a powerful and empathetic perspective on Gaza's ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Author: Caleb Jennings