Oscar Nominated Films Tell International Stories
Hasini Muddapu
Staff Writer
In a world abounded with injustice and conflict, storytellers continue to write narratives that transcend borders and confront us with truth, turmoil, and humanity. Three real and distinct films remind us that behind every headline, there are people with ambitions and souls: Armed Only with a Camera, The Voice of Hind Rajab, and Homebound.
Filmmakers Brent and Craig Renaud chased the truth for decades through experiences in places that were torn apart from crisis and war. The philosophy behind their cinema derives from principles of compassion, bravery, and truth. Through an immersive storytelling approach, they followed soldiers waiting for deployment, families being crushed by addiction, migrants crossing borders, and the survivors of Haiti’s earthquake. They aimed for the audience to experience intimate spaces where there was hope, fear, and persistence. The International Documentary Association writes Brent was killed by Russian soldiers during the invasion of Ukraine. In Armed Only with a Camera, Craig bravely included a clip of Brent talking to traumatized civilians and how his body was covered by a blue tarp on a street in Ukraine. Brent and Craig’s mission was to show the impact of violence and war on people and the fact that it does not even matter even if they are journalists. The story of Brent in this documentary shows his journey from being a quiet sociology student to being a fearless and empathetic human revealing hurtful stories from around the world.
The Voice of Hind Rajab is a film that no one should forget. Kaouther Ben Hania, a Tunisian director created a film that incorporates documentary and fiction. The film is centered around a 70-minute audio of the final phone call of a young Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab who was trapped in a bullet-riddled car in Gaza and killed by Israeli soldiers. Her family was killed, but six-year-old Hind Rajab spoke to the emergency responders wanting to be saved. The Los Angeles Times writes, “Her gathering awareness—Hind Rajab sat in a car among dead family members—is too heartbreaking to fully comprehend.” The emergency responders were outraged. The audience hears the unfiltered and terrified voice of the little girl while the actors react in real time. According to Al Jazeera, during the film’s premiere at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, it received a standing ovation for more than 23 minutes.
Thousands of miles away, another country faced a different crisis. Directed by Neeraj Ghawan, Homebound is an Indian film that tells the true story of two young best friends, Mohammed Saiyub and Amrit Kumar being pushed to the brink by the COVID-19 lockdown and discrimination in India. The lockdown had cost them their jobs, stability, and unfortunately, one another. Times of India states, “Shoaib, a Muslim is inspired by Mohammed Saiyub, while Chandan, a Dalit, is based on Amrit Kumar.” The two best friends were passionate about securing a police job in a town called Surat so they could support their families back home in Devari. Throughout their time in Surat, they had experienced rising Islamophobia and caste discrimination. Mohammed Saiyub was looked down upon because of his religion. Amrit Kumar was looked down upon because of his caste. Their friendship was constantly tested but their experiences signify loyalty and resilience. When the Indian government had issued a nationwide lockdown, there were no job opportunities, and both had no savings. The two friends had no clear transportation to home. Unfortunately, during their attempt to walk home, Amrit Kumar collapsed from the heat and exhaustion with his best friend staying by his side. A New York Times essay depicts, “Mohammed Saiyub cradling his childhood friend, Amrit Kumar, after he collapsed from a heat stroke.” According to BBC, the film had received a nine-minute ovation at the iconic Cannes Film Festival.
These three Oscar-nominated films refuse to hide the suffering and ask us to sit and acknowledge the discomfort. We are reminded that storytelling is an act of solidarity and responsibility. Let us not ignore the global crisis and view it as something distant. Instead, we must recognize our humanity and take action to support those who desire love and happiness amidst tough times.
Image courtesy of Getty Images.
