Will Trump Let This Palestinian Actor Attend the Oscars?

Quick Overview

Director Kaouther Ben Hania, actor Motaz Malhees, and host Mehdi discuss the intense emotional toll and the necessity of telling the true story of Hind Rajab, whose voice recording is featured in the Oscar-nominated film "Four Daughters," which blends documentary and fiction to portray the reality of life and conflict in Gaza.

Key Points: Kaouther Ben Hania discussed the difficulty of balancing the factual story of Hind Rajab's death with the fictional elements of "Four Daughters," noting the film is not a straight documentary. Actor Motaz Malhees described the intense emotional experience of portraying Omar, the Red Crescent operator who spoke to Hind Rajab, stating he felt like he died a thousand times and that the role was painful but necessary. Malhees revealed that he only felt comfortable taking the role after speaking with the real operator, Omar, and that his acting became a way to channel his own real-life anger and frustration regarding the conflict. Director Ben Hania emphasized that the film's primary goal was to honor Hind Rajab's voice and story, not just to serve as documentary evidence, but to make the audience feel the reality of the situation. The film intentionally blends fiction and documentary elements, using the real voice recordings of Hind and the operator to anchor the narrative. The film is currently nominated for an Oscar and is being distributed by a major US studio, despite initial distribution challenges for Palestinian-related content.

Context: This video features an interview on Zeteo's Town Hall program with Kaouther Ben Hania, the director of the Oscar-nominated film "Four Daughters" (also referred to by its original title, "Voice of Hind Rajab"), and Motaz Malhees, the lead actor who portrays Omar, the Red Crescent operator who spoke with Hind Rajab on the phone just before she was killed. The discussion centers on the emotional demands of portraying such a tragic, real-life event and the director's choice to blend documentary footage with fictionalized scenes.