Cinema devoid of moral judgment triumphs in Venice: Jarmusch's silent film prevails

In the heart of the Venice Film Festival, controversy and emotion swirled around two powerful films: Jim Jarmusch's "Father Mother Sister Brother" and Kaouther Ben Hania's "The Voice of Hind Rajab."

Jarmusch, the US director who won the Golden Lion for his episodic film, stated that he does not wish for his work to be shown in Israel if Israeli government funding is involved. His film, featuring actors such as Cate Blanchett, Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling, and Vicky Krieps, does not portray heroes and anti-heroes, but rather complex characters entangled in intricate family dynamics and the silence that often prevails.

Meanwhile, "The Voice of Hind Rajab," the film that moved the jury the most, was a partly documentary, partly fictional piece about the last moments of Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in Gaza. The central element of the film is an alleged real audio recording of Hind's pleas for help during the conflict for about three hours.

However, the film does not depict the massacre by Hamas and other terrorists in Israel that triggered the Gaza war. Instead, it suggests that Hind Rajab and parts of her family were killed by Israeli forces, a claim denied by Israel's military.

The Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Ben Hania for "The Voice of Hind Rajab." In her acceptance speech, she accused the Israeli government of committing genocide. Jury president Alexander Payne, along with several other filmmakers, including Indya Moore, spoke out against the Gaza conflict during the festival.

Benny Safdie won the directing prize for "The Smashing Machine," emphasizing the importance of empathy in cinema. Jarmusch, on stage, wore a pin that read "Enough," referring to the Gaza conflict.

The audience's emotional response to "The Voice of Hind Rajab" was significant, with some viewers crying and standing ovations at the festival. The political positioning of the Golden Lion winners regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict is not publicly documented or evident from available sources related to the festival and its awarded filmmakers in 2025.

Jarmusch believes that art can create a sense of connection between people, which is the first step towards solving problems. His stance, along with the powerful films and speeches at the Venice Film Festival, sparked important discussions and raised awareness about the ongoing conflict in Gaza.