Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Stars: Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Amer Hlehel

Based on real events which occurred in January 2024, this almost unbearably poignant drama charts the efforts of workers in the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Ramallah to respond to an emergency call made from a petrol station in Gaza, fifty-two miles away. The call is from the six-year-old Hind Rajab, a six-year-old trapped in a taxi during an Israel bombardment. Every other passenger, Hind’s aunt, uncle and four cousins, have been killed. Omar (Malhees) takes the call and attempts to keep the little girl calm while desperately trying to procure help. His level-headed colleague Rana (Kilani), who was just about to leave work when the call came in, offers to talk to Hind while Omar pleads with manager Madhi (Hlehel) to send the ambulance. Doing this is a laborious process though, involving the Red Cross and the Ministry of Health who need to get the all-clear to move in from the Israeli Ministry of Defence. The picture plays like a Hollywood thriller with its deftly sketched characters, predominantly single location setting, and jittery handheld camerawork. Consequently, qualms may be raised about having the actors respond to real recordings of Rajab’s voice, but the choice imbues the proceedings with an extraordinary immediacy and power. An essential, righteous cry of despair.

David Willoughby

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