How can people commit such horrors? That is the question that moviegoers will ask themselves after watching "Saving Face," the Oscar-nominated documentary short from directors Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

To the shock of those who watch it, "Saving Face" highlights the increasingly common practice of acid violence in Southeast Asia.

In particular, the documentary tells the story of two women: 39-year-old Zakia, whose husband threw acid on her after she filed for divorce, and Rukhsana, a 25-year-old whose husband and in-laws threw acid and gasoline on her, then set her on fire.

"This is a man-made issue and has to be dealt with aggressively," Dr. Mohammad Jawad told CTV News on Friday.

Pakistani by birth, the film follows the London-based plastic surgeon as he journeys back to his mother country to perform reconstructive surgery on the survivors of acid violence such as Zakia and Rukhsana.

"These two brave ladies are just a few of many I've dealt with already. But this disease is not confined to Pakistan," Jawad said.

On the contrary, this disease, as Jawad calls it, of throwing acid onto the faces and bodies of women is now a form of domestic violence across Southeast Asia. It is used by men as revenge for refusal of sexual advances or proposals of marriage.

More disturbing still are the numbers of women who have had their lives altered by such violence and hatred.

According to the Acid Survivors Foundation of Pakistan, which is featured this film, more than 100 acid attacks a year are documented in Pakistan. The organization estimates that far more attacks have occurred. Due to lack of reporting and women's fears to seek justice, the real numbers remain a mystery.

"Society has failed, in my opinion, to prevent this and to punish the perpetrators who have done these heinous crimes," said Jawad.

"Even the medical community has failed to look after these patients. It is a collective failure," he said.

"Saving Grace" does bring some hopeful news to light.

The film looks, in great depth, at a parliamentary decision in Pakistan to pass a bill on acid violence.

It also shows the great concern of one Pakistani man for the women of his country.

"I owed it to my country to do my part," said Jawad.

"I've tried to get into the heads of these guys," he said

Try though he may, however, Jawad cannot comprehend why any man would willingly harm a woman in this way.

"It's got nothing to do with religion," said Jawad.

"This disease is man-made and must be tackled psychologically and with laws."