‘A Girl In The River’ Wins Best Documentary Short At Oscars, Could Change Honor Killing Law In Pakistan

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness, made by Pakistani journalist and filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, won the Best Documentary Short Oscar at the 88th Academy Awards.

‘A Girl In The River’

The win for A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness made for the second Oscar victory for Obaid-Chinoy, who previously won in the same category for 2011 documentary Saving Face. Upon collecting her award, Chinoy pointed out the power of women working together, and that of men who support women in their educational and professional pursuits.

“This is what happens when determined women get together,” she said, thanking her film’s protagonist Saba Qaiser and producers. She added, “To all the brave men out there, like my father and my husband, who push women to go to school and work, and who want a more just society for women.”

Obaid-Chinoy finished her speech by recognizing the power of film, including that of A Girl in the River, which is effecting real change in Pakistan.

“This week, the Pakistani prime minister, says that he will change the law on honor killing after watching this film,” she said. “That is the power of film.”

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness follows the story of 18-year-old Saba, who miraculously survives an honor killing. She was shot in the head by her father after falling in love and marrying without her family’s consent. After being thrown into the water, Saba fought for her life and found help before it was too late. As Obain-Chinoy points out in her film, Saba’s story of survival is a rare one. In Pakistan, roughly 1,000 women per year are slain in honor killings.

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness premieres on HBO on Mar. 7.