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Directed by Alex Gibney, KNIFE offers an intimate portrait of Rushdie in the aftermath of the 2022 attack. More than 30 years after Iran issued a fatwa calling for his death over The Satanic Verses, Rushdie traveled to Chautauqua, New York, to speak about the United States as a sanctuary for exiled writers and artists. He was attacked on stage, suffering life-altering injuries, including the loss of sight in one eye and permanent nerve damage.
The documentary provides an unprecedented look at Rushdie’s recovery and life after the attack, including never-before-seen footage captured by his wife, acclaimed poet and writer Rachel Eliza Griffiths, alongside Rushdie’s own candid reflections on survival, creativity, love, and finding a way forward after an act of violence that fundamentally changed his life.
Based on Rushdie’s memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, the film goes beyond the attack itself to explore his return to writing, his resilience, and his determination to continue creating despite the threats he has faced for decades. Through deeply personal footage and Gibney’s signature storytelling, KNIFE offers a moving portrait of a writer reclaiming his voice and his life.