‘I believed I could save her’: Inside the making of The voice of Hind Rajab | Real Talk

“I hear her voice in my dreams.”

Israel’s killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab in 2024 sent shockwaves around the world, sparking global outrage and condemnation.

Hind was fleeing Gaza City with her relatives when their car was targeted by Israeli forces. She survived the initial attack and, trapped among her family’s bodies, pleaded for help in desperate phone calls with Palestine Red Crescent responders.

Hind was killed before rescuers could reach her. Her body, and those of her relatives, were recovered twelve days later.

A new film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by acclaimed Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania and executive produced by Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix, brings Hind’s final moments to the screen.

One of the film’s main stars is Motaz Malhees, widely regarded as one of the most talented Palestinian actors of his generation.

In this emotional conversation on Real Talk, Motaz opens up to Mohamed Hashem about the toll of portraying this story, the moments he broke down on set, and why he says, “I really believed I could save her.”

The film has already won multiple awards, sparked Oscar buzz, and received a 23-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:48 Reading the script
07:41 Motaz childhood and upbringing
10:41 Facing trauma through work
19:39 Hearing Hind’s voice
24:42 Acting vs real reactions
26:26 The shocking story behind Motaz becoming an actor
29:17 23-minute standing ovation
34:56 Israel-Palestine in Hollywood today
41:47 Talking to Hind’s mother?
50:00 Oscar buzz
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