25/01/2026
"The Voice of Hind Rajab" making it to the Oscars as Tunisia’s International Feature nominee feels like more than a cinematic milestone—it feels like a moral one.
I am deeply proud that a Tunisian (Tunisian–French) film has come this far. This is not just another awards contender; it may well be the most important film on the list.
I haven’t yet watched Homebound, the much-anticipated Indian film that didn’t make the shortlist, but this year, "The Voice of Hind Rajab" fills that absence with something far more urgent. I watched the trailer and it brought tears to my eyes. I urge you to watch it too—and ask yourself honestly: are you moved, or has our collective heart hardened?
Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, the film tells the true story of five-year-old Hind Rajab through the voices of Red Crescent volunteers who tried, desperately, to save her. Anchored in real audio recordings, the film refuses spectacle and instead demands empathy.
Cinema cannot undo violence—but it can refuse silence. For that, I am deeply grateful to the filmmaker and the producers who ensured this story was told.
Read my blog here: https://zafaranjum.wordpress.com/.../the-voice-of-hind.../
