Review: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is one of those fun, cute little films that make you just a little bit happier and a little bit brighter by the end of it. It’s the equivalent of Key Lime pie. Is there a lot of substance here? Not really. But frankly, I didn’t care, and was sorta angered whenever Director Judy Irving tried to do so (which was rare). In The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, there is a certain quirkiness that Irving allows to develop in a way that is not condescending or judgmental. Neither does she hold Mark Bittner and his birds on a pedestal either. He is human, full of flaws and gifts, eccentricities and stereotypes. That’s what I love about this film. I didn’t feel preached to. I heard a story and felt an honest connection to another human being, which is something worth enjoying in any kind of film. Of course, just because I say Parrots of Telegraph Hill is fun and cute, doesn’t mean Judy Irving is only a decent director. She’s not. Though she may not be the best, she certainly as a mastery of storytelling and she is not afraid to throw her weight around in this film. There are at least five or six moments where I almost paused the movie because I was impressed with her subtle style. My only fault in her style is her timidness in including herself in the film. It’s almost as if she’s unsure if people want her in it or not, so her moments of reflection are sparse, but they are great moments and I wish she could have developed them more. Of course, if you are expecting to gain life lessons from the birds (or the birdman), you might not appreciate the Parrots of Telegraph Hill, because you’ll miss the simple, but cute story of a man looking to find his place in the world. Trust me though, if you can get past the 80’s style synthesizer (yea, there is a lil bit of synth-action), you will be rewarded with a very wonderful story and an ending sure to bring a smile to your face. Review by Matthew Abshire Informative: 4- you’ll be surprised how close a connection you might develop with a few of the parrots Entertainment: 4- it’s cute and well worth your time Technical: 4- Irving has the talent and experience to develop and enhance the moments she captures on film Overall: 4- perfect for anyone looking to impress his or her bird-loving date
 
Format: DVD Year: 2005 Running Time: 83 Min Distributor: Pelican Media and New Video Producer: Judy Irving Director: Judy Irving Date Reviewed: 6-4-2008 Story: This documentary tells the true story of a Bohemian St. Francis of Assisi and his amazing relationship with a flock of wild parrots. Mark Bittner, a homeless street musician in San Francisco, adopts the flock as he searches for meaning in his life. The weird thing is, he's unaware that the wild parrots will bring him everything he needs. The film celebrates urban wildness (human and avian) and links the parrots' antics to human … antics (NetFlix).