New films released this week include Avatar: Fire and Ash, Is This Thing On?, and The Voice of Hind Rajab. These titles join previously released films such as Zootopia 2, Wicked: For Good, and Hamnet in theaters.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
This film marks the third installment in the Avatar series. It introduces the mountain Na'vi, also known as the 'ash people.' In the narrative, their tribe is affected by volcanic eruptions. Unlike other Na'vi tribes, the ash people are depicted as adopting technology. The storyline features Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) as an antagonist. The film has a runtime of three hours and fifteen minutes. Prior releases in the series include Avatar and Avatar: The Way Of Water.
Is This Thing On?
This film centers on Alex (Will Arnett), who begins performing stand-up comedy following his wife Tess's (Laura Dern) proposal to end their marriage. Alex's decision to perform is initially motivated by a desire to avoid a comedy club's cover charge, leading him to discuss his impending divorce on stage. Concurrently, Tess considers a return to women's volleyball as a coach. The film is inspired by the experiences of British comedian John Bishop and is directed by Bradley Cooper. It explores themes such as the involvement of friends in the couple's challenges, the impact on their 10-year-old sons, and their efforts to establish a new relationship structure.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Kaouther Ben Hania's drama, The Voice of Hind Rajab, is set within a Red Crescent call center in the West Bank, where operators receive calls for assistance from Gaza. The plot involves Omar (Motaz Malhees) receiving a call from a man in Germany, who is unable to contact relatives in Gaza. GPS tracking indicates these relatives were at a gas station. Omar establishes contact with Hind, a five-year-old girl, who is depicted as trapped in a car with deceased family members, surrounded by military tanks, and experiencing ongoing bombing and strafing. The narrative details subsequent efforts to secure clearance from the Israeli military to dispatch an ambulance, located eight minutes away, to her location. A central component of the film is the incorporation of real audio recordings of Hind's voice, documented on January 29, 2024, during her confinement in the car. The on-screen actors' performances are presented as real-time reactions to these recordings.