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Movies / On DVD / Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

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Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2005)

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95 %
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Reviews Counted: 93

Fresh: 88

Rotten:5

Average Rating: 7.7/10

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

Rated: G

Runtime: 83 mins

Genre: Education/General Interest

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... 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

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Dec 27, 2005

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

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Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
05/13/09
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
10/18/08
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
08/16/07
David Jenkins
Time Out New York

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

Full Review Source: Sly Fox | comment Comment
05/25/07
Kam Williams
Sly Fox
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
10/07/06
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine

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.

Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | comment Comment
02/10/06
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
01/17/06
Sydney Morning Herald
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
12/10/05
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]

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

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
12/09/05
Marta Barber
Miami Herald

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

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
12/09/05
Chris Cabin
Filmcritic.com

In the spirit of all good documentaries, Wild Parrots transcends its ostensive subject.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
12/06/05
Matt McNally
BBC

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.

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
11/26/05
Arthur Lazere
culturevulture.net

Amusing, touching and satisfying, this gentle yet probing little doco is a hand made movie whose simplicity and its subject matter are pluses.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/14/05
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
09/26/05
AV Club

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.

Full Review Source: KWQC-TV (Iowa) | comment Comment
08/16/05
Linda Cook
KWQC-TV (Iowa)

How animals can sometimes, like art, serve as a reflection of the hopes and fears of their caretakers.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
08/02/05
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

Parrots not so wild.Documentary shows quirks but not much else.

Full Review Source: Sympatico.ca | comment Comment
07/20/05
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca

Parrots not so wild.Documentary shows quirks but not much else.

Full Review Source: Sympatico.ca | comment Comment
07/20/05
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca
 
 
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