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The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2004)

tomatometer

95

Average Rating: 7.7/10
Reviews Counted: 97
Fresh: 92 | Rotten: 5

Interesting and appealing as both a study of man and nature.

100

Average Rating: 7.8/10
Critic Reviews: 30
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 0

Interesting and appealing as both a study of man and nature.

audience

81

liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 5,088

My Rating

Movie Info

Telegraph Hill is a neighborhood in one of the hillier sections of San Francisco that over the years has become home to a large flock of wild parrots. While no one is certain how they got there, the birds were for the most part left to their own devices until they were discovered by Mark Bittner. A street musician and self-described "Dharma bum," Bittner had no practical background in ornithology when he first encountered the parrots, but it wasn't long before he developed a close bond with them

G,

Documentary, Special Interest

Oct 28, 2008

$2.7M

Shadow Distribution - Official Site External Icon

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All Critics (107) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (98) | Rotten (5) | DVD (13)

The beautiful shots of San Francisco's lush Telegraph Hill are captivating by themselves, but the film's greatest achievement is its humanity.

December 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Miami Herald
Miami Herald
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A bright window into the wild kingdom just outside our door that most of us barely notice, if at all.

July 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Toronto Star
Toronto Star
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A cornball charmer of a film with some beautiful birds and homespun wisdom.

July 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail
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Charming, intelligent entertainment that should attract the same family audiences that flocked to Winged Migration in 2001.

May 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
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An absolute delight and nothing like the wimpy nature film its title suggests. It's a soaring -- figuratively and literally -- documentary with a surprising emotional power.

May 5, 2005 Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A loving, dopey documentary about the bird man of a place with a view of Alcatraz.

May 5, 2005
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Profile of a gentle, caring, and sensitive man who models for us the empathy and respect we should have for all animals large and small.

July 25, 2012 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice
Spirituality and Practice

Fall in love with these brave and beautiful birds.

December 29, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

There are villains -- hawks! -- and romance -- Sophie and Picasso are the literal lovebirds -- and comedy, and the obvious friendship and familial spirit of the birds is... infectious...

December 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher
Flick Filosopher

A documentary which captures an eccentric ornithologist communing with his flock with an intimacy that's almost unimaginable.

May 25, 2007 Full Review Source: Sly Fox
Sly Fox

Irving captures some memorable images… but generally relies on the birds' natural photogenic charm as well as the human dimensions of the drama to sustain the 83-minute film.

February 10, 2006 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide
Decent Films Guide

Audience Reviews for The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

A beautiful documentary about a truly unique subject. However, I question the motivation, the "honesty" behind closing with the highly speculative killing of Connor by the hawk. As in all life writing, I also question the "truth," in this case, of "miraculously" returning to the scene to capture Connor on film on his last day of life. Kind of reminds me of Jack Nicholson lauding the rule of coincidence in our lives in The Passenger.
January 19, 2009
binky013

Super Reviewer

Sweet, charming and very noisy.
February 18, 2008
Julie

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (DE)
  • Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (UK)
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