"Saving Face": An Oscar-Winning Look at Acid Attacks in Pakistan

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Filmmakers Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy address the audience prior to HBO's documentary screening of the Oscar winning film "Saving Face." (Michael Loccisano/Getty)

There are at least 100 reports of acid attacks in Pakistan each year, and they're overwhelmingly against women. This figure only accounts for the reported cases — it’s assumed that many more go unreported.

The Academy Award-winning documentary short film "Saving Face" looks at this phenomenon through the experiences of three people: Zakia, a 39-year-old woman whose husband threw acid on her after she filed for divorce; Rukhasana, a 23-year-old woman who was attacked by her husband and his family; and Dr. Mohammad Jawad, a plastic surgeon dedicated to healing the faces of the injured women.

We're joined by directors Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Daniel Junge. "Saving Face" premieres on HBO tonight at 8:30 p.m. Click here to view a trailer for the film.

Guests:

David Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Produced by:

Ben Bradford and Ben Gottlieb

Comments [3]

gary from queens

This movie is no different than the very moving story on NPR's BBC world news back in April. thousands of women and girls in Pakistan each year a victims of acid attacks.

It's an epidemic. Men in Pakistan who get into disputes with a woman----any woman----toss acid in their faces. the acid completely destroys their face. often blinding them too. Many of them commit suicide after they realize they will never find happiness because of their appearance.

Very few of the men get punished. some pay off the police.

the BBC reporter delved into the women's stories, as you would expect.

Unfortunately, it didn't mention ONE WORD on the culture that has led to this inhuman behavior----ISLAM!!

Islam's tenets fosters mysogeny, in its male superiority doctrines. It just happens that in pakistan, it's manifested in this popular method of using acid. It's expressed in other ways in different islamic nations. honor killings being one.

But speaking the truth gets you accused of being islamophobic. Just like tracing the hyper supremacy doctrines of Islam over other religions to some muslims killing infidels and apostates. One can never note that most obvious nexus.

The truth, as some enlightened Muslims have said, is that there is justification to be "Shariaphobic."

Jun. 21 2012 12:22 PM
Mark

Incisive interview with two brave people who faced a heartbreaking situation. It takes courage to expose the world's problems. Not only are filmmakers subject to the anger of their own subjects, they have to endure axe-grinders who care not a whit for the problem being exposed and would rather tout their own agendas.

Mar. 13 2012 07:41 PM
listener

Should this real and barbaric "War on Women" happening right now around the world shame the DNC and the left which is using a big defamatory lie of sexism to smear their Republican opposition in an election year with the help of their media supporters?
Apparently that other big political lie of "civility" is over.
While discussing the inappropriate relationship a President has to religion, how about President taking seriously his sworn oath on the Bible to defend the US Constitution and not undercut and ignore it like the religious protection clause in the First Amendment, separation of powers and the War Powers Act to name just a few recent violations?

When "journalists" flog DNC talking points rather than honestly reporting the news it is noticeable and should be pointed out.

Mar. 08 2012 08:07 AM

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