A family sitting on the concrete slab that is all that’s left of their home.

A five-year-old girl, struggling to walk with an unwieldy, prosthetic leg, because she lost her own when she stepped on a mine.

A Pakistani woman, disfigured and blinded by her husband, but still fighting for justice.

These are the images in “World Diary: Honor Killings,” a film presented at DU on Oct. 29 by National Geographic filmmaker Michael Davie.

Davie interspersed film clips with stories that were both disturbing and compelling. Take, for example, the story of Zahida, a Pakistani woman whose husband cut off her ears, tongue and nose, and gouged out her eyes, all on the mere suspicion that she had been unfaithful. Zahida was six months pregnant at the time. He left her for dead, but she recovered, took him to court and persevered until he was sentenced to prison – a rare occurrence in Pakistan, where maiming or killing in the name of honor is often ignored by authorities.

Davie said his goal as a filmmaker is to give a voice to those who have none. It can be difficult to do so when witnessing intense pain and suffering.

Because of Davie’s documentary, Zahida was able to travel to the United States where her face was rebuilt and she can now lead a near normal life.

Davie’s earlier documentary about South African youth led to a similar outpouring of support. Because of it, several girls from the poor township school where he filmed were offered the opportunity to attend college.

Davie’s passion for those who are homeless and without hope resonated well with a college-age audience. Junior Joe Campe said, “I walked out of the theater with ready inspiration and new aspirations as I hope to help people the way Mr. Davie has in his life.”