VENICE, ITALY — On Wednesday night, the Venice Film Festival witnessed a moment for the history books. As the credits rolled on “The Voice of Hindra,” a haunting new film chronicling the ordeal of a young Palestinian girl in Gaza, the audience rose to its feet and refused to sit down. For nearly 24 minutes, applause thundered through the storied halls of the Palazzo del Cinema—a standing ovation that broke the festival’s record and sent shockwaves through the global film community.

But what is it about this film that moved so many, so deeply? And who is Hindra, the child at the center of a story that has become a rallying cry for human rights activists and a symbol of the ongoing tragedy in Gaza?

A Child’s Nightmare Becomes a Global Wake-Up Call

“The Voice of Hindra” tells the true story of Hindra, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl whose harrowing experience during the conflict in Gaza earlier this year became emblematic of the suffering of children in war zones. The film begins on January 29, 2024, as Israeli military forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate immediately. Hindra’s family, fearing for their lives, piled into a car and attempted to flee north.

Moments later, their car was surrounded. Israeli soldiers opened fire, unleashing a hail of bullets that killed everyone inside except Hindra and her 15-year-old cousin, Leanne. What followed was a desperate, heartbreaking attempt to seek help—a story captured in real-time through audio recordings and phone calls that form the emotional backbone of the film.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Gaza’s emergency medical service, made contact with Leanne as she screamed for her life amid the chaos. In just under a minute, 62 gunshots could be heard over the phone. The call ended abruptly, but the PRCS called back immediately. This time, it was Hindra who picked up.

A Race Against Time—and Silence

As the hours ticked by, Hindra remained trapped in the car, surrounded by the bodies of her family. The Red Crescent worked frantically to keep her talking, her mother joining in on the calls to offer comfort and encouragement. But Hindra’s responses grew quieter and shorter. At one point, she explained her silence: “Every time I talk, blood comes out of my mouth and makes my clothes dirty, and I don’t want my mom to have to clean it.”

The Red Crescent obtained permission from the Israeli defense ministry to send an ambulance, but as paramedics turned onto Hindra’s street, explosions rang out and contact was lost. The ambulance was later found burned out, its crew killed in the line of duty. No one could reach the area for nearly two weeks.

When rescuers finally arrived, they found a scene of unimaginable horror. The family car was riddled with 335 bullet holes, its windows blown out, and the bodies of five children piled together in the back seat. Hindra’s uncle was still slumped over the driver’s seat, and the air was thick with the smell of death.

The family was buried together outside Al-Shifa Hospital, their murder quickly becoming a rallying cry for activists worldwide. University students held vigils and protests; the Hindabad Foundation was established to pursue justice for Hindra and other victims, seeking to prosecute those accused of war crimes in international courts.

A Director’s Mission: “I Cannot Accept a World Where a Child Calls for Help and No One Comes”

The story might have faded into the background of countless headlines, but Tunisian filmmaker Kauer Benha refused to let it be forgotten. Upon hearing the haunting audio recordings of Hindra’s calls for help, Benha decided to drop everything and make a film. “I cannot accept a world where a child calls for help and no one comes,” she said in an interview after the premiere.

Benha secured the full 70-minute audio recording from the Red Crescent, as well as testimonies from Hindra’s mother and others who had been on the phone that night. The film reconstructs the ordeal with raw, unfiltered emotion—eschewing graphic video in favor of Hindra’s voice, a decision Benha says was crucial to preserving the memory and resisting collective amnesia.

The project quickly attracted the attention of Hollywood heavyweights. Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Jonathan Glazer, and Alfonso Cuarón all signed on as executive producers, lending their influence and resources to bring Hindra’s story to the world stage.

A Landmark for Cinema and Human Rights

“The Voice of Hindra” was nominated for the Golden Lion, the Venice Film Festival’s highest honor, recognizing its profound contribution to cinema and the global conversation on human rights. The film’s premiere was attended by a who’s who of the industry, but it was the audience’s response—a nearly half-hour standing ovation—that truly marked its arrival as a cultural phenomenon.

Critics and viewers alike described the screening as “devastating,” “transformative,” and “a call to action.” In a media landscape saturated with images of violence and suffering, Benha’s decision to focus on sound and voice rather than spectacle was hailed as a masterstroke. “Cinema can preserve a memory, and cinema can resist amnesia,” Benha told reporters. “This is not just a film—it is a testimony.”

Why Did the Film Move Audiences So Deeply?

The answer lies in the film’s brutal honesty and its refusal to look away. Hindra’s ordeal, relayed in her own words and through the voices of those who tried to save her, forces viewers to confront the reality of war’s youngest victims. It is not a story of heroism or triumph, but of abandonment and loss—a simple narrative of a child trapped and alone, calling for help that never comes.

In an era where viral videos and fleeting news cycles threaten to numb us to suffering, “The Voice of Hindra” demands that we listen, remember, and act. The film’s record-breaking ovation is proof that audiences are hungry for stories that challenge, unsettle, and inspire change.

A Rallying Cry for Justice

As the world continues to grapple with the crisis in Gaza, “The Voice of Hindra” stands as both a memorial and a rallying cry. The Hindabad Foundation, inspired by the film and Hindra’s story, is working to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that the voices of children like Hindra are never ignored again.

For filmmaker Kauer Benha, the film is just the beginning. “This is not about awards or records,” she said. “It’s about making sure the world hears Hindra’s voice—and never forgets.”