VENICE, Italy — A Palestinian-led docudrama centered on the Israel-Gaza conflict, which featured contributions from celebrated Jewish director Jonathan Glazer, earned significant acclaim during the Venice Film Festival, culminating in a remarkable standing ovation.
The festival, which opened with a large pro-Palestinian protest, awarded the Golden Lion for best film to “Father Mother Sister Brother,” a family drama starring pro-Israel advocate Mayim Bialik. Bialik made an appearance on the red carpet amidst protests pushing for the exclusion of some pro-Israel figures, including actress Gal Gadot, whose own film, “In the Hand of Dante,” debuted at the event.
Second place went to “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” the Palestinian film that meticulously reenacts the tragic death of 5-year-old Rajab during the Gaza conflict in 2024. During its screening, the film captivated audiences, receiving a 23-minute standing ovation, with some attendees chanting “Free Palestine.”
Glazer is best known for his acclaimed Holocaust narrative, “The Zone of Interest,” which focused on the juxtaposition of Nazi Germans living in proximity to Auschwitz. His acceptance of the international feature Oscar for the film in 2024 stirred controversy in certain Jewish communities when he leveraged the moment to criticize Israel.
Following its completion, Glazer signed on as an executive producer for “Hind Rajab” along with prominent figures such as actors Joaquin Phoenix, Brad Pitt, and Rooney Mara. The film, although currently lacking a major U.S. distributor, has garnered attention as Tunisia’s submission for the best international feature Oscar, with its director, Kaouther Ben Hania, a two-time Oscar nominee.
In accepting the award, Ben Hania dedicated it to the Palestinian Red Crescent, detailing the struggles the organization faced in attempting to assist Rajab when she became trapped in a vehicle with deceased family members. A report by a major newspaper noted that Israel initially allowed ambulances access to Rajab before later conducting strikes on them.
The film, developed with the consent of Rajab’s surviving family members in Gaza, incorporates voice actors responding to the audio of her real-life 75-minute emergency phone call. “The voice of Hind is the voice of Gaza itself, a cry for rescue the entire world could hear, yet no one answered,” Ben Hania stated in her acceptance speech, where she vehemently condemned Israeli actions.
Rajab’s story has become emblematic of the global pro-Palestinian movement, prompting initiatives for International Criminal Court investigations and inspiring a foundation in her name to pursue legal actions against Israeli soldiers operating internationally.
At the festival, thousands rallied in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, while festival jury president Alexander Payne refrained from commenting publicly on the ongoing conflict. He subsequently dismissed claims suggesting that the political climate influenced the film awards.
Even the top prize winner faced controversy; the film’s distributor, Mubi, is reportedly caught in an internal dispute over a significant investment linked to the Israeli military. Prominent filmmakers criticized the funding as “genocide profiteering,” highlighting the complexities of financial backing in the current political climate.
Meanwhile, other films presented at the festival also addressed themes relevant to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Notably, “Cover-Up,” a documentary on journalist Seymour Hersh, investigated Gaza and connected it to earlier reports on wartime misconduct in Vietnam.
As this year’s Toronto International Film Festival approaches, other works critical of Israel, including “Palestine ’36” and Lapid’s latest satire, are set to draw attention, further fueling discussions surrounding the ongoing conflict.
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