What Next | Daily News and Analysis Her Film Is an Oscar Nominee. It Almost Didn’t Make it to the U.S.
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Mar 10, 2026 Kaouther Ben Hania, Tunisian film director known for blending documentary and narrative forms, discusses making The Voice of Hind Rajab. She explains finding Hind’s family and using the real emergency call. She talks about avoiding graphic imagery, staging authentic actor reactions, and refusing awards on political grounds. The film ends with intimate memories and reflections on cinema’s role in crisis.
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Real Call Audio Became The Film's Moral Core
- Kaouther Ben Hania centered the film on Hind's real emergency call because the recording carries undeniable truth and emotional force.
- The real audio came from social media and propelled her to stop other projects and recreate those hours precisely.
Getting Blessing From Hind's Mother Before Filming
- Kaouther contacted Hind's mother, who was still in Gaza and fleeing, and sought her blessing before making the film.
- Hind's mother told Kaouther she wanted justice for her daughter, which became the project's mandate.
Authenticity Outweighs Audience Comfort
- Kaouther insisted on using Hind's actual voice despite discomfort because a child's recorded plea is an unalterable document of what happened.
- She argued an actress would risk falsifying the authenticity the recording already provided.