Title – All That Breathes (2022)

Director – Shaunak Sen (Cities of Sleep) 

Cast – Salik Rehman, Mohammad Saud, Nadeem Shehzad

Plot – Documentary exploring the work of brothers Mohammad Saud and Nadeem Shehzad in helping injured Kite birds around the often turbulent climate of the Indian city of Deli that is experiencing increasingly unhealthy conditions for life. 

“That’s why it’s called science fiction. So much of science fiction is unscientific”

Review by Eddie on 18/08/2023

The only feature in history to win the main documentary awards at both the Sundance and Cannes Film Festival’s, Shaunak Sen’s Oscar nominated All That Breathes is a strikingly beautiful tale of tenderness in the face of growing hardship that may on face value appear to be about the relationship between man and animal but becomes so much more as Sen explore’s the unique Indian city of Deli and the way in which nature finds a way to endure against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Made available in the United States via HBO Max and locally here in Australia through streaming service Binge, Breathes may not have been readily available to many upon its limited theatrically run throughout 2022 but one can only hope viewers are savvy enough to jump at the chance to lay witness to Sen’s feature that is sure to appease a wide ranging collection of fans who are going be both moved and inspired by what transpires through its brief 90 minute runtime. 

There’s no particular narrative thread that runs through Breathe’s tale, no such point A to point B type scenario but that matters little as we are drawn into the world of brothers Mohammad Saud and Nadeem Shehzad who have dedicated most of their adult lives to helping the Indian kite bird as numerous and extensive numbers of the species are bought to the brothers due to harsh and often unforgiving nature of the city of Deli that is here showcased to be in deteriorating state both ecological and spiritually, making the brothers task all the more difficult as they attempt to keep their heads above water and their beloved birds in the sky. 

Making for fascinatingly unique subject matters, both Saud and Nadeem are very likeable central presences through Sen’s film and watching them bicker and work with one another is a joy but Breathes is really made special by Sen’s incredibly in-tune direction that turns Deli and its animal citizens, right through from ants to horses into a whole living breathing entity to the film, making for some undeniable special moments and imagery you won’t soon forget.

Rarely does a documentary ever come off so polished but at the time raw and intimate as Breathes does and with the support of composer Roger Goula and The Act of Killing’s  Joshua Oppenheimer as a consulting producer, Breathes makes great use of a range of talent and worthy material to become a special little film that is so much more than a skin-deep examination of man and nature. 

Final Say – 

A poignant small film with a big beating heart, All That Breathes causes one to ponder the elements that surround them and is deserving of the significant praise it has received over the past year. 

4 bricks out of 5