Tehran – The Iranian drama “Bash, Bash, Little Stranger” was directed by Gazaset drama Balaam Beisai and “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Tunisian filmmaker Ben Hania at the closing ceremony of the Venice Film Festival on September 6th.
Beyzaie’s 1989 film won the Venice Classic Award for Best Restored Film and Docudrama for Israel’s murder of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl during the ongoing war of massacres in Gaza.
“Bash, The Little Stranger” was restored at 4K at Roashana Studios with the support of the Institute of Intellectual Development for Children and Young Adults (known as Kanoon). The film was released by MK2 Films.
The classics section of Venice in this year’s festival edition included 18 classic films from around the world, including “Matador” by Pedro Almodovar (1986), “The Blind Chance” by Krzysztof Kieślowski (1981), and “Blind Chance” by Kwaidan.
As an anti-war masterpiece, “Bash, Little Stranger” has a simple story. It tells the story of Bash, a southern Iranian boy who fled to seek evacuation after losing his family during the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988 and was taken to Naiyi, who lives with her two young children in a village in the country.
Despite linguistic, ethnic and racial differences, neighbour gossip, and the financial challenges of feeding new families, Naii accepts Bash and prepares to persuade her disabled husband when he arrives home from a work-related trip.
But the moving and acclaimed drama brings subtle undertones about human emotions like love, acceptance, loneliness and inexperience.
In 1999, the film was named the best Iranian film of all time by polls from 150 film experts.
Docudrama’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab” took the festival by storm with the urgent portrayal of a young girl’s plea for the rescue.
“The cinemas can’t get back to their backs, nor can they erase the atrocities committed against her. They can’t recover what they film, but cinemas can keep her voice and resonate across the border,” Ben Hania accepted her award. “Her voice will continue to resonate until justice is accomplished, until accountability becomes reality.”
The film tells the true story of Hindrajab, who was killed in Israeli occupation last year as she and her family tried to evacuate Gaza city.
It uses actual audio from Rajab’s hourly appeal to the Palestinian Red Crescent Association. The rescuers tried to reassure her when they were trapped in a bullet-car with the bodies of their aunt, uncle and three cousins who were killed in an Israeli fire.
Hindrajab was then killed. Also was the two ambulance workers who rescued her and then went to the scene.
“It tragically is the story of the whole of those enduring the genocide, given by the criminal Israeli regime acting with immunity,” Ben Hania said.
“Tonight, this story is not about memory, it’s not about urgency. Hind’s mother, Wissam and her younger brother, Iyad, are still in Gaza.
“I urge world leaders to save them. Their survival is not a matter of charity. It is a matter of justice, a matter of humanity, and the world owes them the bare minimum,” the film director emphasized.
“I also want to put an end to this unbearable situation. Enough is enough. Once upon a time, a clever man named Nelson Mandela said, “I know very well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” Today, his words ri more than ever before,” concluded Ben Hania.
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” premiered at the Venice Film Festival to earn thunderous acclaim and received a 23-minute standing ovation.
At the screening, audiences exploded with tears and hymns of “Free Palestine” while waving the Palestinian flag.
“I dedicate this award to the Palestinian red crescent moon and to all those who took every risk to save lives in Gaza. They are real heroes,” Ben Hania posted on Instagram, captioning a photo of herself holding the award.
In her Instagram post, Ben Hania shared a message from Hind’s mother Wissam. “I want to thank you, the whole team, and everyone who supported the film, supported me and supported this story,” she said.
Hind’s mother, Wissam Hamada, spoke from Gaza City, and said she hopes the film opens the world’s eyes.
Tunisia has already submitted “The Voice of Hind Rajab” as an entry for the year’s Best International Feature Oscar.
SS/SAB