Why Salman Rushdie and His Wife Turned His 2022 Stabbing Recovery into a Documentary

In 2022, acclaimed author Salman Rushdie survived a brutal stabbing while speaking onstage at a literary festival in Chautauqua, New York. He suffered 18 stab wounds during the attack, which left him blind in his right eye and with limited use of his right hand.

The traumatic event later became the foundation for Rushdie's 2024 memoir, 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,' as well as a documentary adaptation titled 'Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie.' Alex Gibney directs the film and takes a deeply visual look at the attack and the long road to recovery that followed.

Salman Rushdie's Documentary

Rushdie, now 78, attended the documentary's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on 25th January alongside his wife, poet and artist Rachel Eliza Griffiths. While both have written about the experience—Griffiths in her upcoming 2026 memoir 'The Flower Bearers'—they felt that film offered something writing alone could not.

Image Courtesy: People

Salman Rushdie explained that some experiences need to be seen to fully understand their impact. He said the documentary includes moments that are difficult to watch, but he felt it was important to show the real, physical consequences of a terrorist attack. In his view, even the strongest writing cannot fully capture that kind of reality on the page.

Griffiths, 47, also served as a cinematographer on the film and personally filmed parts of Rushdie's recovery, including footage from his hospital room. She said making the documentary required letting go of their natural instinct to protect their privacy. After the attack, she felt privacy was no longer possible, and meeting Gibney gave them confidence to share their story openly and trust his vision. Looking back, she believes they made the right choice.

Salman Rushdie said both he and his wife are proud of the finished film and curious to see how audiences respond to it.

Image Courtesy: People

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/kate-hudson-says-she-may-write-a-script-to-star-with-goldie-hawn-11011665

Salman Rushdie Reflected on His Attack

Earlier this year, Rushdie also reflected on the attack in a profile with The Hollywood Reporter, where he shared that he does not see himself as a symbol despite the global attention surrounding his case. He acknowledged that people around the world view him in very different ways, shaped largely by decades of controversy following his 1988 novel 'The Satanic Verses.' That book led to intense backlash and a fatwa calling for his death, forcing him into hiding for many years.

Despite the public narratives that surround him, Salman Rushdie said he still sees himself simply as a writer sitting in a room, thinking about what to write next.

The documentary premiered during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, which runs from 22nd January to 1st February in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. This year marks the festival's final run in Utah before its move to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027, and the first edition held after the death of founder Robert Redford.

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/ben-affleck-got-sick-filming-emotional-scene-with-bruce-willis-in-armageddon-11012081