In his memoir Knife, Salman Rushdie reflects on his life overshadowed by the 1989 fatwa calling for his execution due to The Satanic Verses. While he felt liberated from discussing this controversial work, he was thrust back into its haunting legacy following a brutal stabbing by Hadi Matar, who attacked him in August 2022. Directed by Alex Gibney, Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie explores this traumatic event through Rushdie’s narrative combined with footage from his wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths. The film’s visuals include shocking depictions of Rushdie’s injuries, capturing the severity of the attack.
Gibney artfully intertwines past and present, showcasing Rushdie’s early literary career, his breakout works, and the global uproar following The Satanic Verses, including riots and threats against translators. The film highlights the stark divide between supporters and critics of Rushdie, with figures like John Berger and Jimmy Carter noted as detractors.
While Gibney’s use of archival footage is commendable, some artistic choices, including animated text from Rushdie’s books and an imagined dialogue with his assailant, felt underdeveloped. The climax powerfully juxtaposes the attack’s horror with Rushdie’s return to the location a year later, emphasizing his resilience. Knife serves not only as a documentation of his ordeal but as a testament to Rushdie’s enduring spirit and belief in the power of freedom of expression. The film is currently showing in UK cinemas.
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