Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto, who was twice elected (and twice removed) as Prime Minister of Pakistan and was running for the post again when she was assassinated in 2007, is the subject of this excellent documentary by Johnny O'Hara and Duane Baughman. Combining voiceover narration, archival footage, and interviews with relatives (including Bhutto's widower Alif Zardari, now President of Pakistan, and her children) and others, Bhutto expertly situates the biographical profile within an overall history of the country, from its independence in 1947 to the present. At the center is a fractious family—often compared to the Kennedys—which has played an important role, beginning with Benazir's controversial father Zulfikar. While the end result is a fitting tribute to Bhutto, who clearly attracted support from a large segment of the Pakistani population while courageously taking stands that alienated her from other powerful factions, Bhutto also offers a clear and concise primer for anyone trying to understand a nation that remains—despite considerable diplomatic tension, especially in the wake of the Bin Laden raid—an indispensable U.S. ally in one of the most volatile regions of the world, as well as a nuclear power. DVD extras include a text interview with Baughman, and a photo gallery. Preferable even to Philip Selkirk's fine Benazir Bhutto: Daughter of Power (VL-7/08), Bhutto is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)