Decades after the fatwa over The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie went to Chautauqua, New York, to talk about America as a refuge for exiled writers and was stabbed onstage. Alex Gibney's 107-minute documentary draws on Rushdie's memoir Knife to turn that day into a portrait of a writer who refused to be silenced. This opening-weekend screening adds a Q&A with Andy Grieve moderated by Alec Baldwin, the pick if you want the film plus conversation.
What to expect
The screening runs just under two hours, followed by an onstage conversation in the same auditorium. The film mixes Rushdie's own words, archival footage and interviews about the attack and its aftermath. IFC Center is also running the film at other times through the weekend without the Q&A.
Good to know
- Only the evening show marked on IFC Center's page includes the Q&A; the other screenings are the film only.
- The film deals directly with a violent attack, so it may be heavy for some viewers.
- West 4th St–Washington Sq (A/C/E/B/D/F/M) is the closest subway stop.
- Books by Rushdie, especially Knife, make good pre-reading but are not required.
- Assistive listening is available at IFC Center.
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Common questions
Who directed Knife?
Alex Gibney, the Oscar-winning documentarian behind Taxi to the Dark Side, directed the film, drawing on Rushdie's memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder.
Who is on stage after the screening?
IFC Center lists a Q&A with Andy Grieve, moderated by Alec Baldwin, after this screening.
How long is the film?
It runs 107 minutes before the Q&A.
