Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie will screen in Johannesburg and Cape Town next month. The film draws on unseen footage of the author’s recovery after the 2022 attack.
The documentary follows Salman Rushdie’s memoir about the stabbing he suffered on 12 August 2022 at the Chautauqua Institution in New York state. Directed by Alex Gibney, it includes hospital footage recorded by Rushdie’s wife, Rachel “Eliza” Griffiths, showing his injuries and rehabilitation.
In one scene Rushdie states from his hospital bed that the record is needed “because it’s not just about me, you know. It’s about freedom. It’s about the ability to say your truth.” The film also incorporates archival material from his career and clips from other movies to explore themes of violence and expression.
Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie forms part of the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival. It screens on 7 June at Rosebank Nouveau in Johannesburg and on 12 June at Ster-Kinekor V&A in Cape Town.
