Palestinian films expose survival and loss while a French drama critiques elite privilege

Two powerful films from the Palestinian territories have drawn attention at international festivals this year. The Voice of Hind and All That We Were explore survival, loss, and resilience across generations. Meanwhile, a French drama contrasts sharply with these stories, depicting the detached lives of the ultra-rich. The Voice of Hind, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, follows the true story of a young girl trapped in a car with her family after a bombing in Gaza. As Hind fights for survival, she manages to call a support centre in the West Bank. The team there faces agonising choices, knowing that past rescue attempts have put their own medics and ambulance drivers in grave danger.

*All That We Were*, directed by Cherien Dabis, traces a Palestinian family’s struggles from 1948 to 2022. The story centres on Salim, whose son Noor is fatally shot during the 1988 intifada. Decades later, Noor’s mother meets the young Jewish man who received her son’s heart. In a quiet moment, she shares her people’s pain while recognising the suffering of others. Across the Mediterranean, *The Richest Woman in the World* offers a starkly different world. Directed by Thierry Klifa, the film follows the heiress of L’Oréal as she navigates a life of excess and manipulation. The story critiques the indifference of France’s economic elite, their frivolity set against the harsh realities faced by those in conflict zones. Both Palestinian films raise urgent questions about survival and sacrifice. The French drama, in turn, forces a confrontation with privilege—highlighting the gulf between those who endure war and those who look away.

These films have sparked discussions about storytelling and inequality. The Voice of Hind and All That We Were bring Palestinian experiences to global audiences, while The Richest Woman in the World lays bare the disconnect of wealth. Each, in its own way, demands attention to the choices people make in the face of power, loss, and privilege.