Watch Bhutto

Bhutto is a powerful documentary film from 2010 that outlines the life and legacy of Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan. Combining interviews with archival footage and personal anecdotes from those who knew Bhutto best, this film offers a fascinating glimpse into the political landscape of Pakistan and the life of one of its most iconic figures.

The film starts with a quick overview of the political turmoil of Pakistan in the 1970s, where Bhutto's father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto rose to power but was later assassinated by the military. Benazir Bhutto, who was studying at Harvard at the time, returned to Pakistan to take up her father's mantle and lead the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) against the dictatorial regime of General Zia-ul-Haq. Bhutto spent several years in prison and under house arrest, but emerged as a popular and charismatic leader who championed democracy, women's rights and secularism.

The interviews with her family members - her father, mother, and siblings - are some of the highlights of the film. Her siblings Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, who are also the producers of this film, offer intimate insights into their sister's life and their family's struggle for democracy. Aseefa, the youngest daughter, in particular, is seen as being most like her mother; she is articulate and passionate about continuing her mother's activism.

The film also features interviews with Bhutto's closest allies and friends, including her advisor Mark Siegel and her biographer Peter Galbraith. They recall her many achievements, such as pushing for women's rights in Pakistan, negotiating with the Taliban, and striving for peace between India and Pakistan. However, the film does not shy away from discussing the controversies during Bhutto's time in government, such as her alleged corruption, lack of progress in solving major social and economic issues, and her close ties with the US.

The film also touches upon the events leading up to her assassination in 2007, which devastated the nation and the PPP supporters globally. The interviews with her children offer an emotional perspective on their mother's death and how it affected their family and Pakistan as a whole. Bilawal, who was only 19 at the time, took over the leadership of the PPP after his mother's death and has since emerged as a well-regarded political figure in his own right.

Throughout the film, the directors maintain an objective and balanced perspective, presenting both the positive and negative sides of Bhutto's life and legacy. They effectively convey the conflicts and complexity of the political landscape of Pakistan, and the impact of Bhutto's life and work.

In terms of cinematography, the film incorporates various modes of expression, including news footage, home videos, and interviews with various individuals close to Bhutto. Coupled with its stark portrayal of the political unrest in Pakistan during her rise to power, the documentary offers a well-rounded insight into the life and motivations of this influential Pakistani figure. Overall, Bhutto is a powerful, thought-provoking documentary that provides a compelling insight into the complex world of Pakistani politics, and the remarkable life of a pioneering and iconic figure.

Bhutto is a 2010 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6 and a MetaScore of 68.