Decoding the Underlying Sustainability Messages: A Rhetoric Analysis of documentary film- All that Breathes

This paper investigates the persuasive potential of documentary filmmaking in transmitting sustainability messages by assessing the contribution of the documentary All That Breathes to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 11, and 13. The film, directed by Shaunak Sen, investigates the effects of air pollution on black kites and people in Delhi, India, emphasizing the interconnectivity of health, urban sustainability, and climate action. The study uses a rhetorical analysis framework, to assess the film's alignment with the SDGs, concentrating on rhetorical devices, narrative structure, and visual and audio approaches. The findings show that the film successfully integrates emotional appeals, logical reasoning, and credibility, proving its ability to inspire environmental consciousness and positive change in conservation activities. This study adds to the expanding corpus of research on the function of documentaries in advancing sustainable development by highlighting the Significance of community involvement and group efforts in tackling health, urban sustainability, and climate change issues.