“Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie,” directed by Alex Gibney, provides a detailed account of the 2022 attack on the acclaimed author Salman Rushdie and the lasting impact of that event. The 107-minute documentary captures the aftermath of the stabbing and explores the broader context of Rushdie’s life and work.

The film opens with a brief but intense glimpse of the assault in Chautauqua, New York, where Rushdie was stabbed multiple times on stage during a public lecture by Hadi Matar. The footage reveals the severity of the attack, including injuries to Rushdie’s face, body, and right eye, which required extensive medical intervention. Much of the intimate hospital footage was filmed by Rushdie’s wife, poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths.

Gibney’s documentary then traces the events leading up to the attack, focusing on Rushdie’s 1988 novel, *The Satanic Verses,* which sparked controversy and led to a fatwa issued by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini that called for Rushdie’s execution. This edict forced Rushdie into nearly a decade of hiding and remains a defining element of his life.

The film portrays Rushdie’s lengthy recovery as a continuation of his earlier ordeal, highlighting the physical and psychological challenges he continues to face. Despite the trauma, Rushdie narrates his story with a blend of lyricism, measured defiance, and sharp humor. At one point, he wryly advises audiences to “avoid having your eyelid sewn shut,” a reference to one of his serious injuries.

Beyond recounting the attack and its consequences, the documentary positions Rushdie as reclaiming his narrative from those who sought to silence him. It underscores his resilience and affirms his identity as an author determined to live on his own terms. The film ultimately serves as a meditation on survival and the enduring power of the written word.

“Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie” is currently showing in theaters.