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Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2005)
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Reviews Counted: 92
Fresh: 87
Rotten:5
Average Rating: 7.7/10
Consensus: Interesting and appealing as both a study of man and nature.
Theatrical Release: Feb 11, 2005 Limited
Box Office: $2,720,531
Synopsis: An uncommon bond between man and nature is the focus of Judy Irving's wonderful and informative documentary, THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL. The film follows Mark Bittner, an unemployed aging hippie, who lives off the kindness of... An uncommon bond between man and nature is the focus of Judy Irving's wonderful and informative documentary, THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL. The film follows Mark Bittner, an unemployed aging hippie, who lives off the kindness of strangers in the titular San Francisco neighborhood. His life takes on new meaning when he starts feeding a flock of wild Conures, a breed of parrot noted for its green body and cherry-red head. Native to Argentina, the birds soon feel comfortable enough to feed while perched all over Mr. Bittner. Being outcasts who yearn to remain free, a mutual respect is born between them. Daily routine soon leads to growing crowds of curious passersby, as Bittner becomes something of a local celebrity. Based on his up-close observations, Bittner gains some keen insight into the behavior of individual birds, giving them names. The resulting portraits of Connor, Mingus, Olive, Pushkin, Picasso, Sophie, and Tupelo prove that these amazing creatures deserve star credit in their own right. WILD PARROTS features some incredible close-ups, rare in-depth glimpses into the unique and often amusing habits and activities of one flock of parrots, and a surprise ending. [More]
Starring: Mark Bittner
Starring: Mark Bittner
Director: Judy Irving
Director: Judy Irving
Producer: Judy Irving
Composer: Chris Michie
Studio: Shadow Distribution
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Reviews for Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
A documentary which captures an eccentric ornithologist communing with his flock with an intimacy that's almost unimaginable.
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.
The beautiful shots of San Francisco's lush Telegraph Hill are captivating by themselves, but the film's greatest achievement is its humanity.
Perhaps if Judy Irving's The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill had been released in any other year, I wouldn't be so judgmental and hard to please
In the spirit of all good documentaries, Wild Parrots transcends its ostensive subject.
The birds...are a natural subject for a documentary film, but in the end Judy Irving's film is as much or more about Mark Bittner, a self-appointed guardian of the flock, than it is about the birds themselves.
Amusing, touching and satisfying, this gentle yet probing little doco is a hand made movie whose simplicity and its subject matter are pluses.
Even though it's only August, I'm not going out on a limb when I say that "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" is one of the best films of the year.
How animals can sometimes, like art, serve as a reflection of the hopes and fears of their caretakers.
A bright window into the wild kingdom just outside our door that most of us barely notice, if at all.
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