The winner of this year's Academy Award for Best Documentary Short will debut on HBO tonight.
"Saving Face" is about a plastic surgeon, London-based Dr. Mohammad Jawad, who volunteers his services to help Pakistani women in his home country who have been permanently disfigured by acid attacks. This type of brutal attack is not uncommon in Pakistan, and those responsible (usually a husband or someone close to the victim) are typically given only minimal punishment for their crime.
The film focuses on the stories of two women: 39-year-old Zakia, whose husband threw acid on her after she filed for divorce, and 25-year-old Rukhsana, whose husband and in-laws threw acid and gasoline on her and set her on fire.
Directors Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy follow Dr. Jawad as he helps these victims, who would otherwise have little or not access to reconstructive surgery, and also follows the push to enact new legislation that imposes stricter sentencing of perpetrators of acid attacks.
"Saving Face" will debut tonight at 8:30 p.m. on HBO.
Watch the trailer for the film below.
Other HBO playdates: March 8 (5:30 a.m.), March 11 (8:45 a.m.), March 14 (5:15 p.m.), March 17 (1:45 p.m. ET only, 2:15 p.m. PT only, 5:40 a.m.), March 20 (6:15 a.m., 11:50 p.m.) and March 23 (1:45 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: March 24 (8:15 a.m.) and 28 (8:00 p.m., 2:40 a.m.)
Brooke Cain isn't always proud of the number of hours she logs in front of the TV, but her loss of brain cells can be your gain. From reality shows to sitcoms to the more serious stuff, Brooke keeps her DVR smoking so that she can help keep you in the know. Brooke also tweets for Happiness is a Warm TV (you can follow