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

The Takeaway

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.

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