A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness (HBO)

About A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness (HBO)

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness is an engaging Oscar-winning documentary that intimately explores the life of an 18-year-old Pakistani woman, Saba, who survives an attempted honor killing by her father and uncle. The film traces her inspirational journey of survival, pursuit of justice, societal pressures, and the difficult choice of forgiveness. It delves deep into the twisted logic of honor that binds these families and the pressures that surround 'forgiveness' in a culture where there is tremendous emphasis on saving face.

Making / Production

The film is directed by the Academy Award winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The film beautifully captures the raw realities of rural Pakistan, exploring the intricate patterns of societal norms, traditions, and belief systems.

Actors

• Saba: As the protagonist of this documentary, Saba is not an actor but a resilient and brave survivor who shares her real-life experiences.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• The film led to significant change in Pakistan, inspiring lawmakers to push forward on anti-honor killing bills.
• Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is the only Pakistani to win two Academy Awards and six Emmy Awards.

Awards

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness won the Oscar for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 88th Academy Awards in 2016, marking a significant achievement for the film's portrayal of human rights issues.

Quotes

• "This is what happens when determined women get together." - Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy on winning the Oscar
• "When survivors tell their life stories, they do so to raise an alarm about the global epidemic of gender violence.” - Saba

Music, Soundtrack

• Extraordinary soundscape created by Salar Nader.
• Folk-influenced background score, providing a haunting potency to the telling images.