Saja Kilani is a Jordanian-Palestinian-Canadian spoken word poet and actress whose work has made us weep, whether watching her cry on screen or finding ourselves moved to tears by the raw precision of her performances. Saja made her international debut in Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, portraying Palestine Red Crescent Society volunteer Rana Faqih, who stayed on the phone with six-year-old Hind as the world looked away. The role demanded both cinematic dramatisation and ethical reverence for a still-open wound earned her Charli xcx’s public praise, a standing ovation at the Oscars, and left audiences at Cinema Akil in Dubai in tears.
Now, she is accepting awards at red carpets wearing Palestinian designers like Reema Dahbour. Off screen, she is always watching movies that offer a message on humanity. Here is her curated watch list she sent Cosmo Middle East.
Parasite (2019), Bong Joon-ho
A Korean thriller that shows two families’ wealthy disparities.
Why Saja ❤️ the movie: “I recommend this film for its sharp, deeply human portrayal of class inequality and the invisible systems that shape our choices.”
Scent of a Woman (1992), Martin Brest
A masterful piece where a prep school kid ends up babysitting a blind, self-destructive ex-Army colonel for one wild weekend that changes everything.
Why Saja ❤️ the movie: “Al Pacino’s performance in this film is one to be studied; it’s a masterclass in presence, vulnerability, and moral weight.”
A Separation (2011), Asghar Farhadi
A divorce spirals into chaos when a caregiver’s accident forces everyone to admit the lies they’ve been telling just to get by.
Why Saja ❤️ the movie: “This film offers an honest, nuanced look at human relationships and the quiet strength of women navigating moral and social constraints.”
Origin (2023), Ava DuVernay
Neither documentary nor conventional narrative, a writer traces how caste systems crush people worldwide whilst processing devastating grief in her own life.
Why Saja ❤️ the movie: “One of the films that left me in awe in the theater; it offers a compassionate examination of caste, grief, and structural injustice through a deeply personal lens.”
The Voice of Hind Rajab (2024), Kaouther Ben Hania
An emotionally charged watch where a Red Crescent volunteer stays on the phone with a six-year-old trapped in Gaza.
Why Saja ❤️ the movie: “While I am part of this film, I genuinely recommend it for its urgent, human testimony and its commitment to bearing witness.”
Next, check out the schedule for this year’s Reel Palestine!