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The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2003)

7.7
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Ratings: 7.7/10 from 2,421 users   Metascore: 80/100
Reviews: 46 user | 57 critic | 27 from Metacritic.com

A homeless musician finds meaning to his life when he starts a friendship with dozens of parrots.

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Cast

Cast overview:
Mark Bittner ...
Himself
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Storyline

In San Francisco, there are at least two flocks of largely wild parrots who flock around the city. This film focuses on the flock of cherry-headed conures (and a lonely blue-headed one named Connor) who flock around the Telegraph Hill region of the city and their closest human companion, Mark Bittner . Through his own words, we learn of his life as a frustrated, homeless musician and how he came to live in the area where he decided to explore the nature around him. That lead him to discovering the parrot flock and the individual personalities of it. In a cinematic portrait, we are introduced to his colorful companions and the relationship they share as well as the realities of urban wild life that would change Bittner's life forever. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

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The true story of a bohemian St Francis and his remarkable relationship with a flock of wild red and green parrots

Genres:

Documentary

Certificate:

G | See all certifications »
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Release Date:

22 September 2005 (Australia)  »

Filming Locations:


Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$104,986 (USA) (18 February 2005)

Gross:

$3,058,229 (USA) (9 June 2006)
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1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The flock of wild parrots fly behind the red-tailed hawk in order to escape it. See more »

Soundtracks

"Ain't We Got Fun"
Performed by Jack Kerouac
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User Reviews

This is the kind of film that makes our lives richer...
11 April 2005 | by (houston) – See all my reviews

This film has a zen-like quality. It masterfully documents the bitter-sweetness of life with that magical aspect of wholeness and completeness that all great art embodies. It seemed effortless, honest, open. Clearly loving, sometimes painful, tragic, always beautiful, inspiring... Finely photographed and masterfully edited, this is an actively multi-dimensional film of transformation.

Attempting to compare this film is inappropriate, in my opinion. It stands alone and quite well on its own.

I noticed it was made in 2003, which would seem to indicate difficulty in getting distribution. If this hypothesis is true, I would consider it nothing less than a criminal indictment of the society in which we live.

To all the people who brought this film to me I send my warmest regards.

clay smith


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