Three bold films expose inequality through survival, satire, and suffering

Three upcoming films explore starkly different worlds, from the struggles of Palestinians across generations to the detached excesses of France’s wealthiest elite. Each story offers a distinct perspective on power, survival, and the human cost of inequality.

The films—All That We Were, The Voice of Hind, and The Richest Woman in the World—span drama, tragedy, and satire, with connections that may reveal deeper societal divides. All That We Were, directed by and starring Cherien Dabis, traces a Palestinian family’s journey from 1948 to 2022. The story follows Noor, a young man radicalised after an occupying patrol humiliates him and his father, Salim. Later, after Noor suffers brain death, his parents face a wrenching choice: whether to donate his organs.

The Voice of Hind, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, centres on a Palestinian girl named Hind, trapped in a car with her family after a bombing raid in Gaza. Her voice becomes a desperate plea for help, but the Palestinian centre must coordinate with occupying forces just to send a Red Crescent ambulance. The film’s tension lies in the bureaucracy and delays that stand between life and death.

The Richest Woman in the World, directed by Thierry Klifa, shifts focus to France’s economic elite. The heiress of L'Oréal surrounds herself with sycophants, including a scheming photographer who acts as her court jester. He boasts that boldness makes him happy—yet his actions always harm others. The film’s satire exposes the frivolity and cynicism of those who profit while nations struggle.

Together, these films may highlight a troubling link: the elite’s indifference could deepen the suffering of those already marginalised. The three works present contrasting but interconnected realities. All That We Were and The Voice of Hind depict survival under occupation, while The Richest Woman in the World critiques the privilege that ignores such hardship. Their release may spark discussions about inequality, power, and the consequences of turning away from human suffering.