Documentary and Trial News for Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie will be the focus of a new documentary based on his memoir, Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, and the attack that inspired it. The documentary will be directed by Alex Gibney, who won Oscars for his work on Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room and Taxi to the Dark Side. Rushdie, a 76-year-old author, survived a stabbing while giving a lecture in the United States. The attack left him with severe injuries. The trial of the man accused of stabbing Rushdie, Hadi Matar, is scheduled to begin on September 9. Rushdie and another person who tried to stop the attack are expected to testify in the trial. In August 2022, Rushdie was stabbed multiple times before a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. The attacker, Matar, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault. Rushdie lost an eye and suffered other injuries in the attack. Rushdie's memoir delayed Matar's trial as his defense sought more information. Rushdie is known for his novel "The Satanic Verses" and has faced death threats in the past. A documentary called Knife will explore Rushdie's life and the 2022 assassination attempt. The film will show Rushdie's recovery after the attack, using personal footage shot by his wife. Rushdie's memoir was a way for him to cope with the violence he experienced. The documentary will include interviews and excerpts from Rushdie's work. Alex Gibney, the director, expressed his admiration for Rushdie and the importance of telling his story. The film is currently in production and looking for a distributor.