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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The history of the Pakistani Bhutto dynasty is a saga of duty, loss, and intrigue that rivals the Kennedys… and possibly the Corleones, as well. Beginning with the meteoric rise to power in the 1960s of Pakistani president and founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the family's timeline has borne witness to nationwide adoration, periods of exile, supreme comebacks, and assassinations. This documentary focusing on two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto does a thorough job in exploring this tangled, fascinating web. Utilizing a wealth of archival clips and personal reminiscences, directors Duane Baughman and Johnny O'Hara delve deep into the life of Zulfikar Ali's eldest child Benazir, a Harvard-educated, fiercely independent woman who returned to her father's side following a violent military coup. Undergoing years of imprisonment, house arrests, and family tragedies, she nonetheless persisted in her goal to strengthen her country's standing in the world, a mission tragically cut short by her assassination in 2007. While the filmmakers mainly concentrate on their subject's considerable achievements, it is to their credit that they don't shy away from the darker controversies as well, including charges of favoritism and corruption that continue to plague the family to this day. The film's CGI-assisted, montage-heavy style may toe the line between visually arresting and over-caffeinated at times, but the strength of its central character more than carries it through. In this case, history handily trumps fiction. --Andrew Wright
Product Description
{WINNER! Best Documentary, Rhode Island Int'l Film Festival}
{WINNER! Special Jury Prize, Sonoma Int'l Film Festival}
{OFFICIAL SELECTION! 2010 Sundance Film Festival}
{OFFICIAL SELECTION! Hot Docs Film Festival}
The epic story of Benazir Bhutto, the first woman in history to lead a Muslim nation.
A favored daughter of the family often called the "Kennedys of Pakistan," Benazir was elected Prime Minister after her father was overthrown and executed by his own military. Her time in power saw acts of courage and controversy as she broke the Islamic glass ceiling, fought for the rights of women, and tried to quell the fires of religious extremism, while battling accusations of corruption.
A fascinating array of archival footage, never-before-heard audio of Benazir and interviews with family members and leading experts brings to life this tale of Shakespearean dimensions in the country The Economist calls "the World's most dangerous place."
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Documentary As A Political Thriller--Pakistani History Comes To Life
May 11, 2011
Format:DVD
The real life story of the first woman in history to lead a Muslim nation, "Bhutto" chronicles the trials and tribulations of Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. In a land divided by violence and turmoil, film maker Duane Baughman does an excellent job outlining the country's turbulent history as well as getting a vividly close look at the Bhutto clan. Often called the "Kennedys of Pakistan," Benazir's affluent family had political connections around the globe--but that didn't stop her father from being imprisoned and executed by his own military. Taking an unprecedented position as an Islamic woman, Benazir rose to populist power not once or twice--but three times. Surviving years of exile and/or imprisonment as well as accusations of corruption, she never relinquished Pakistan as her homeland and a place she wanted to fight for. Making significant strides in education, medical care, and the rights of women--her legacy lives on and, in many ways, her children have taken up the fight for democracy.
The documentary is laid out as a chronological telling of the Bhutto (and the Pakistani) story beginning with the advent of Pakistan as an independent entity to the aftermath of Benazir's very public assassination. Interviewing journalists, historians, and those in or close to the Bhutto family, the film really gives you an idea of who Benazir was and the conditions that informed her struggle. An incredibly personal look at a leader on the world stage, the documentary seems to allow a closeness not often associated with political documentaries.
If you have any interest in the Bhutto clan or Islamic history, this is certainly an easy recommendation.... Read more ›
The documentary is laid out as a chronological telling of the Bhutto (and the Pakistani) story beginning with the advent of Pakistan as an independent entity to the aftermath of Benazir's very public assassination. Interviewing journalists, historians, and those in or close to the Bhutto family, the film really gives you an idea of who Benazir was and the conditions that informed her struggle. An incredibly personal look at a leader on the world stage, the documentary seems to allow a closeness not often associated with political documentaries.
If you have any interest in the Bhutto clan or Islamic history, this is certainly an easy recommendation.... Read more ›
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Bhutto takes political biography documentaries to a whole new level. It manages to be engaging and entertaining whilst also educational. A few things really struck me. First, while it is sympathetic towards Bhutto, it does interview a wide range of political actors, including former president Musharraf and Bhutto's estranged niece. It doesn't shy away from allegations of corruption within her administration, even if it heavily suggests they were mostly political attacks. It also goes into some of the history of Pakistan, but again does so in an engaging and efficient way. FInally, most of the images were colorful and sharp, which made the visuals appealing to watch (it is a movie after all). My one suggestion (for a future release) would be to include an option for subtitles throughout the entire movie. Between the accents of some of the interviewees and muffled quality of some of the older interviews, it's not always easy to understand what everybody is saying. Highly recommended for students of South Asian history or women in politics.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Timegoesby
Format:DVD
This was an interesting film. I learned about Benazir Bhutto's father and what happened to him, and also about Benazir herself. At the beginning of the film, I thought she was a strong, courageous woman to be prime minister in a male-dominated Islamic society. She had to contend with the forces of Pakistan's Inter-services Intelligence agency, as well as the Army, and her political opponents. She seemed sincere about bringing education, health care, housing, and social services to the people of Pakistan.
However, near the second half of the film, I started to see a much more complex figure. Was she and her husband involved in corruption, and siphoning money and investments for her family? Was she complicit in the death of her brother? It's difficult to tell, especially without understanding more about Pakistani politics, and Pakistani Islamic culture.
However, near the second half of the film, I started to see a much more complex figure. Was she and her husband involved in corruption, and siphoning money and investments for her family? Was she complicit in the death of her brother? It's difficult to tell, especially without understanding more about Pakistani politics, and Pakistani Islamic culture.
By Rich
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Very well done - good commentary. Would be better with more facts of why her tenure in office was not too successful.
By Stevie
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Really nice documentary. I did not know
much of Bhutto but now have a respect for
her and the things she did for her country.
Thumbs way up.
much of Bhutto but now have a respect for
her and the things she did for her country.
Thumbs way up.
Format:DVD
A fascinating story of a woman and a family whose lives, took on the
dimensions of Greek myth or Shakespeare.
The film-making itself is a little sedate and conventional, and the film
feels a bit too much like hero worship (questions about Bhutto's failures
and possible corruption are raised, but then raced by without much explanation).
But whatever the complete truth of the politics (I'll admit I'm no expert on Pakistan) there's
no question that this charismatic family changed the country's history, with Benazir
Bhutto being a truly revolutionary figure - the first female leader of a Muslim country
(and one of the very short list of woman from any nation to ascend to lead their country
on the world stage).
She championed both democracy and equal rights for women, saw her arraigned
marriage bloom into real romance, all the while enduring terrible hardships and losses;
seeing her family arrested, tortured and worse.
She set an example for a moderate approach to Islam and government that seemed to
give hope (to an outside observer at least) for a peaceful, non patriarchal, egalitarian future.
dimensions of Greek myth or Shakespeare.
The film-making itself is a little sedate and conventional, and the film
feels a bit too much like hero worship (questions about Bhutto's failures
and possible corruption are raised, but then raced by without much explanation).
But whatever the complete truth of the politics (I'll admit I'm no expert on Pakistan) there's
no question that this charismatic family changed the country's history, with Benazir
Bhutto being a truly revolutionary figure - the first female leader of a Muslim country
(and one of the very short list of woman from any nation to ascend to lead their country
on the world stage).
She championed both democracy and equal rights for women, saw her arraigned
marriage bloom into real romance, all the while enduring terrible hardships and losses;
seeing her family arrested, tortured and worse.
She set an example for a moderate approach to Islam and government that seemed to
give hope (to an outside observer at least) for a peaceful, non patriarchal, egalitarian future.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great personal story; one-sided political biography
This biography does a very good job of presenting the human side of Benazir Bhutto and her family. Many people have a tough time understanding this personal side of Bhuttos. Read more
Published 16 months ago by S. Ghias
5.0 out of 5 stars
entertaining! and I learned alot about pakistani history as well.
Pakistan is a mess of a country. And the bhuttos , four of whom were killed from one family alone tried to rule it as a democracy. Were there problems? sure. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Michael Dobey
