What inspired Salman Rushdie's memoir and documentary?

The 2022 on-stage stabbing of Salman Rushdie, which resulted in blindness in his right eye and impairment to his right hand, inspired his memoir 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder' and its documentary adaptation.

How does the documentary 'Knife' portray the attack on Salman Rushdie?

The documentary 'Knife' visually depicts the attempted murder and the subsequent healing process, aiming to show audiences the impact of such a terrorist attack.

Has Salman Rushdie faced controversy before his recent attack?

Yes, Salman Rushdie faced significant backlash and violence after the 1988 publication of his novel 'The Satanic Verses,' leading him to go into hiding for a decade due to a fatwa.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Rushdie's Brutal Attack Inspires New Documentary

Rushdie's Brutal Attack Inspires New Documentary

26 Jan

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Summary

Rushdie was blinded in his right eye and lost use of his right hand due to the attack.
The memoir and film portray the attack and healing process visually.
Rushdie was previously targeted after his novel 'The Satanic Verses'.

Rushdie's Brutal Attack Inspires New Documentary

The 2022 on-stage stabbing of Booker Prize-winner Salman Rushdie, which resulted in blindness in his right eye and significant impairment to his right hand, is now the subject of a new documentary. Titled 'Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie,' the film, directed by Alex Gibney, visually depicts the attack and the subsequent healing journey.

Rushdie, 78, and his wife, poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths, attended the documentary's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on January 25, 2026. Griffiths, who also worked as a cinematographer, captured footage in Rushdie's hospital room. She explained that making the film involved a process of "letting go of the material," moving from privacy to public sharing.