From its lyrical opening shot of rats scurrying across an empty, moonlit lot somewhere in New Delhi, Shaunak Sen’s (“Cities of Sleep”) thoroughly original new documentary “All that Breathes” makes it clear that generous helpings of the cinematically sublime will be served up along with gritty doses of reality. The film follows Nadeem and Saud, two brothers who run a makeshift bird clinic and tend to the ubiquitous black kites of Delhi, which are falling out of the sky at alarming rates. Equal parts character study, environmental/ecological think piece and spiritual contemplation, “All That Breathes” exists in that rare space between the mythological and the all too real.
Shaunak joined Ken on “Top Docs” to discuss the film’s rich visual approach, thought-provoking themes and complex relationships. Sitting in his car stuck in a traffic jam, what inspired Shaunak to go home and immediately begin to research the topic that would lead him to the brothers’ basement clinic? In the midst of the climate change crisis, why did Shaunak find Nadeem and Saud, with their “head down” approach, to be such philosophically interesting figures? And with India’s anti-Muslim fervor creeping ever closer to the brothers’ sanctuary, how did Shaunak figure out the best way to reveal what was happening in the world outside without losing focus on the brothers and their birds? Join us for this engaging conversation with the director of one of the year’s most acclaimed films.
Please note: we apologize for some audio issues experienced during the recording of Shaunak’s interview and ask you to please bear with us.
“All That Breathes” is currently in limited theatrical release and will be on HBO and available for streaming on HBO Max at a date to be announced.
Hidden Gem:
¡Vivan las antípodas!
Follow on twitter:
@allthatbreathes
@topdocspod
The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.
”The Janes” with Tia Lessin & Emma Pildes
”Blind Ambition” with Rob Coe & Warwick Ross
”Civil” with Nadia Hallgren
”Nothing Compares” with Kathryn Ferguson
”Navalny” with Daniel Roher
”Moonage Daydream” with Brett Morgen
”Gaslit” -- Fact or Fiction with Jim Robenalt
Emmy Roundup with Scott Feinberg
”Three Minutes: A Lengthening” with Bianca Stigter
”The Territory” with Alex Pritz
”Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy” with Ian Denyer
”When Claude Got Shot” with Brad Lichtenstein
”Controlling Britney Spears” with Samantha Stark & Liz Day
”We Feed People” with Sara Bernstein
”The Beatles: Get Back” with Peter Jackson
”Lucy And Desi” with Robert A. Martinez
”Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches” with Julie Marchesi and Seun Babalola
”100 Foot Wave” with Joe Lewis
”George Carlin’s American Dream” with Michael Bonfiglio
”Changing the Game” with Michael Barnett, Clare Tucker, Alex Schmider
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Multiverse Fancast
Cinema: A to B
I Finally Watched...
Kill James Bond!
Pod Meets World