All That Breathes (2022) is a documentary directed by Shaunak Sen, which won the Best Documentary Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The film tells the profound story of two brothers, Mohammad Saud and Nadeem Shehzad, who run a bird hospital in Delhi, India, dedicated to saving injured kites, a bird species that is deeply symbolic to the region.
Set against the backdrop of Delhi's chaotic, polluted environment, the documentary follows the lives of the brothers, who care for and rehabilitate kites while facing their own personal challenges and the socio-political turbulence of the city. The brothers' tireless work, despite limited resources, highlights their deep connection to the natural world and their commitment to preserving the kites.
The film explores themes of environmental degradation, the intersection of nature and human life, and the bond between humans and animals. Through intimate and poetic cinematography, All That Breathes meditates on the fragility of life and the persistence of hope, as the brothers strive to save the kites amidst a rapidly deteriorating urban landscape.
