Then the scenes shift to some hard-hitting realities. From the inception of a country, mass migration, murders, intrigues, military takeovers, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's rise to stardom, Benazir's Bhutto's birth, her siblings, her father's execution, her prime ministerial tenures and then her assassination... it's a story of the Bhutto family, and that of Pakistan.

One may argue that there's nothing revelatory for Pakistanis in the documentary Bhutto, incisively directed by Duane Baughman. The fact remains that like an un-put down-able book it's a film that will keep you glued to your seat (if not on its edge) and transfixed on the silver screen from the first frame till the end credits roll up. The documentary has already been screened at prestigious events like the Sundance Film Festival to rave receptions.

The first thing that you notice is that chronology and incidents that have played decisive (mirthful or saddening) roles in the lives of Bhutto family members aren't told through a single narration or voiceover in the film. What you see is a series of interviews of friends and relatives of the Bhutto clan and of scholars, journalists and political stakeholders. This negates the idea of commentary and the tale progresses in a rather factual manner.

Now that doesn't mean that because of that the role of the viewer becomes that of a mere spectator. No. The interviews (of people like Ahmed Ispahani and Tariq Ali, along with BB's children and husband and a host of others) make you develop an interest in the film that's beyond the political sphere.

Tariq Ali's eloquent and measured analysis of what transpired in Pakistan after Z.A. Bhutto's execution and Mark Siegel's compassionate recollections of Benazir Bhutto impart an element of cinema verite to the film. Tariq Ali's comment that the story of the Bhuttos is like a Greek tragedy resonates for a long time. And that's where the film scores high points. It's an effort that intends to present the Bhuttos, particularly Benazir Bhutto, as regular human beings and not as larger-than-life creatures. Their problems are real; their flaws are noteworthy; their charm is infectious. So when tragedy hits them, it's readily identifiable. When they're happy, it's easily relatable.

The footage used in the docu is also remarkable. You get to see Murtaza and Shahnawaz Bhutto's images that transport you back to the '80s. The shots from their college days are interesting; so are the lighter moments captured in the film. But when the brutal and gruesome political goings-on are shown, Bhutto takes a serious if not depressing turn.

Director Duane Baughman has done a decent job. The editing is crisp. The writing is simple but effective. The only aspect that could've been re-looked into is the music. Not that it's not good, it is; it's just that you feel that it could have been a bit more cadenced.

All in all, Duane Baughman's Bhutto is a must-see film.