Pakistan

Emotional scenes at screening of Bhutto

A documentary on Benazir Bhutto titled “Bhutto: You Cannot Murder a Legacy” was showcased on Tuesday.

Express June 16, 2010

A documentary on Benazir Bhutto titled “Bhutto: You Cannot Murder a Legacy” was showcased on Tuesday at Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA).

The two-hour-long documentary was based on Benazir’s political endeavours and her personal life. Some members of the audience chanted slogans of “Jiyay Bhutto” between the screening and a few people were even seen leaving the hall with tears in their eyes.

The ministry of culture collaborated with PNCA to screen the documentary and the audience was a blend of politicians, diplomats and foreign journalists.

Tim George, Aurstralian High Commissioner said, “It was very informative to learn about the Bhutto family,” he said, and added, “It was quiet moving and tragic to see her death.”

Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, Fedral Minister for Culture, who claimed to be one of Benazir’s workers said, “Benazir was a great leader and sacrificed her life for a just cause.”

Published in the Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (14)

arsalan shahid | 13 years ago | Reply isnt he the same saif-ur-rehman who couldnt face his own accountability by the musharaf regime and under an agreement flew to qatar.what a shameful character

hina aslam | 13 years ago | Reply innocent until proven guilty,mr abbas.these corruption charges were levelled by farooq leghari and the notorious 'saif-ur-rehman.mr.saif begged zardari, in adiayala jail to forgive him 4 forging false cases against him and benazir.

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Adeel Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply What was so great about Benazir? Yes she studied in Harvard/Oxford... So? (What did the "aam Pakistani" get out of this?) Yes she was the first woman leader of a Muslim nation? (And yet couldnt put an end to honour killing and other such ridiculous vice) Yes her father was killed by judicial murder but what steps did she take to have an independent free judiciary? Her brother was murdered on the street , right outside his house, while she was the head of state... and she couldnt do anytihng about it... nor could she have gotten the murderers behind bars... how was she going to end the Pakistani public's plight? I refuse to give respect to corrupt and inept politicians who dont give two hoots about the people. Bhuttos are accused may I add, in cases of fraud, money laundering, corruption, etc etc. API tower isnt the only property.... the jewellery and bank balances in Switzerland, the Surrey Mansion, etc etc. List is endless.

Saria Benazir | 13 years ago | Reply A film on the life of Benazir Bhutto “Bhutto: The Film” was one of sixteen documentaries selected for judging at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The film directed by Duane Baughman includes a number of new interviews and comments from Benazir herself. And references to India appear to be fleeting, but the film suggests she genuinely wanted peace with India. It opens with the infamous David Frost interview that Benazir gave shortly after her return to Pakistan in 2007, segues into the assassination attempt on her life in Karachi and then delves into Pakistan’s conception. The documentary then showcases Benazir’s life through interviews with her friends and family, a part that shows some new images of Benazir highlighting her evolution from a woman who had been exposed to ideals from the wave of opposition to the Vietnam War to a woman who surprised all her friends by agreeing to an arranged marriage. The visually dazzling opening flashback sequence ends with a bomb blast announcing the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December 2007. The number of people interviewed for Bhutto is extensive, even if their soundbytes barely feature any criticism of her. Interviewees include Victoria Schofield, Christina Lamb, Reza Aslan, Tariq Ali, Steve Coll, Arianna Huffington, Shuja Nawaz, current and former ambassadors Husain Haqqani, Akbar Ahmed and Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Peter Galbraith, Mark Siegel, former US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice and former President Pervez Musharraf. The Bhutto family is also interviewed, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Bakhtawar, Asifa and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Sanam and Fatima Bhutto and Benazir’s uncle Ahmad Ispahani. That image slowly fades over Pakistan's green flag with its crescent moon and five-point star. A history lesson begins to take hold, but never overwhelms. If the goal of a good documentary is to tell the story and motivate thought, questions and discussion, then the makers of Bhutto should rest easy. In this case, history and its retelling has a soul, and the soul of Benazir Bhutto inhabits this film. Feminist, or not, Bhutto’s life was filled with contradictions and that is what makes this presentation so compelling. It is a triumph of skilled editing that a spider’s web of historical facts are interwoven with archival footage, news reports, interviews with contemporaries, both friend and foe — the whole package morphing quickly into live action and cutaway shots that are cinematographically beautiful and breathtaking in composition. Bhutto is a feast for the heart, mind and soul, delivering an education and history lesson in its 115 minute run time. It appears that if there is a villain in the film, it is Musharraf, who is blamed for her death. At an earlier screening, the director was loudly challenged by Musharraf's son and accused of portraying the general unfairly. However, Baughman defends himself saying, "I don't believe that I portrayed the general unfairly, I believe history always portrays dictators in a poor light, and the rest is up to the audience to decide whether or not that's true." This documentary is vexing, dramatic and fascinating; certainly possessing a life beyond the glitter and caché of Sundance. Regards, Saria Benazir.

Zain Abbass | 13 years ago | Reply Pathetic that we make such movies about corrupt leaders who deserve no such commendation!

ammar | 13 years ago | Reply @saher,i agree with you .

saher | 13 years ago | Reply Benazir Bhutto was larger than life leader..... she lives on...

ammar | 13 years ago | Reply not every one narejo is a martyr after his/her death! gen . zia-ul-haq is definitely not a martyr

Narejo | 13 years ago | Reply Everyone becomes a martyr and saint after their death.

sonia amir | 13 years ago | Reply i have watched this film,therefore,i would like to comment on it.but before doing so ,i would like to make it clear to mr.ehtisham that to watch a film in a cinema is not a luxury in pakistan.people 4m different walks of life r regular cinema goers ,including the daily wagers.furthermore,a cinema goer is equally sensitive to the happenings around him/her.so,i am very much offended by ur irrational and rude remarks .now ,coming back to the ''bhutto film'',first of all,its not a fabricated movie.its based on life of benazir bhutto.the bravery with which she fought (as a young girl) the entire country's establishmnent during Gen.zia's brutal regime.her resilience in the face of conspiracies by the establishment to finish ppp.her long spells in prison.etc.it also shows the human aspect of a leader's life,as a devoted mother,loving wife and a caring friend.it also includes previously unheard audio tapes of benazir bhutto telling her own story.as the movie ended ,there was hardly a dry eye in the cinema hall.i also cried while listening to benazir's heart broken children and husband.its indeed a very compelling documentary especially 4 all those(including myself) who always blame politicians 4 our failures without realising that they r the ones who r always at the recieving end.dictators r never held accountable.only politicians undergo media trials,thrown into exile and hanged or assassinated.despite her (benazir bhutto) failings ,she was the symbol of federation,democracy and modernity in pakistan and else where in the world.despite life threats she came back to pakistan and faced death with courage.she could have lived a luxurious life in dubai but she chose a different path 4 herself.she went down fighting courageously .a complex and historically unique figure,benazir was an icon of change and hope.critcism aside,one has to admire her courage and perseverance.indeed, her legacy will live on 4 generations to come.

Bilal Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply @waqar why bring PML-N into this?Cant we discuss pp alone?What has it done for the people?Has poverty,inflation & terrorism ended?What good is this government?

waqar | 13 years ago | Reply @yasser and dnt u remember how failed that ameerulmoumineen nawaz sharif was? bhutto given the power and authority was a very gud govt: actually the problem wid our people is that they havent even decided which rule do they want ,MILITARY OR DEMOCRATIC...PITY..!

Ehtesham | 13 years ago | Reply I wish these people become emotional on the thousands of people dying of hunger, poverty & terorrism around them!!!!! They just sit in airconditioned halls & see such fabricated documentaries & ......

Yasser | 13 years ago | Reply did they highlighted in the movie, how failed Ms.Bhutto Govt was during her tenure as a Prime Minister of Pakistan twice.

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