Shaunak Sen recalls vividly the day a sudden epiphany struck him as he sat amid traffic in a grey, hazy sky on a typical Delhi day. Black kites, mere specks to the eye, glided effortlessly through the polluted air. “I got the distinct impression that I saw one of those black dots hurtle down,” Sen recounted during a recent discussion in Bengaluru. This event, held as part of Science Gallery Bengaluru’s Carbon Film Festival, unveiled the origins of Sen’s 2022 documentary film, “All That Breathes.”
The Indian filmmaker and video artist began exploring what happens to a bird that suffers in such an environment. His casual curiosity led him to a revelation through a Google search, stumbling upon two brothers, Saud and Nadeem, who were dedicated to rescuing and healing injured birds. What followed was an impromptu Facebook message to the brothers, and a visit that laid the foundation for “All That Breathes,” a film detailing their lives and mission.
Shaunak Sen’s connection to people and projects focusing on human-non-human relationships further shaped his film. A fellowship in Cambridge exposed him to diverse studies, from wolves in Chernobyl to vegetation in Fukushima. Such influences led Sen to think beyond human-centric perspectives and consider the “relational entanglements between human and non-human species.”
The documentary, set against the backdrop of Delhi, isn’t just a tale of two brothers and their bird rescue efforts. It is a mosaic of a city and its denizens—humans and animals alike—enduring turbulent times side by side. It meditates deeply on the interplay between humanity and other living beings, celebrating the interconnectedness of all life forms.
During the discussion, fellow panelists, nature educator Garima Bhatia and wildlife biologist Ravi Chellam, resonated with the film’s thematic layers. Both described multiple viewings that revealed different emotional and philosophical nuances. Bhatia expressed how the film always proved to be an “intensely emotional experience,” while Chellam keyed in on the non-hierarchical approach to life forms, a principle central to the brothers’ and their mother’s beliefs.
The brothers, former bodybuilders turned bird rescuers, live out the mantra that does not place humans above other forms of life. Their contemplative and meditative practices resonate throughout the film.
. Sen wanted the title, “All That Breathes,” to capture this expansive kinship between human and non-human species.
Interestingly, Sen’s creative journey saw significant transformation. Initially captured in a gritty, handheld camera style, Sen soon realized that the material felt restless and did not suit the calm demeanor of his subjects. He transitioned to a more composed, fiction-like style while grounding the heart of the film in non-fiction elements. This hybrid form allowed Sen to delve into complex themes while maintaining the authenticity of the documentary genre.
Indeed, “All That Breathes” transcends its format to pose universal questions about human existence—identity, belonging, love, and meaning. Through clever voiceovers and philosophical insights shared by the brothers, Sen achieved a narrative depth that resonated with audiences worldwide and led to numerous prestigious awards, including the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and the Golden Eye at Cannes.
The film’s contemplative and essayistic style further distances it from conventional, action-filled wildlife documentaries. Instead, it adopts a patient “ornithological” shooting approach, encouraging viewers to slow down and observe. This approach was crucial in capturing the mundanity and rawness of daily life, an element that documentary filmmaking often seeks to portray genuinely.
Discussing the film’s broader impact, Sen highlighted how success and publicity shifted the brothers’ trajectories, bringing them donations and global recognition. However, the filmmaker remains humble about the documentary’s effect, hoping it provided a temporary oasis and a witness to their singular lives.
Sen also delves into the role of films in influencing cultural conversations subtly. He criticizes preachy and pedantic wildlife documentaries that often alienate viewers and instead advocates for “tiny empathy plugs” that shift perspectives incrementally. This notion, Sen believes, is where films gain their power, blending into the cultural bloodstream and inciting change over time.
“All That Breathes” pushed boundaries not just in its storytelling but in how it brought nuanced conversations about ecological interconnectedness into the limelight. As audiences slow down to absorb its myriad layers, the documentary remains a testament to the delicate balance of coexistence and the profound kinship shared amongst all that breathes.
