|
| The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill | 
| Actor: Mark Bittner
Studio: DOCURAMA
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.95
Buy Used: $10.44
You Save: $16.51 (61%)
New (41) from $12.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  153 reviews
Sales Rank: 3793
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Surround Sound
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Running Time: 83 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: NVGD9693D
ISBN: 0767085973
UPC: 767685969335
EAN: 9780767085977
ASIN: B000BB1534
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
Release Date: December 26, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Item in very good condition, rental overstock, may or may not include insert and/or stickers, 100% guaranteed.
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Of Birds and People...we're all drops in the river February 14, 2006
3 or 4 years ago, on a visit to San Francisco, I got up on a beautiful crisp clear morning at the crack of dawn and walked from the Market Street area, made my way up to Nob Hill, down Lombard Street, then up the steep climb of Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower. I remember vividly looking up and seeing the flock of parrots cavorting about as they made a big racket in the trees. It was really an amazing and unexpected sight in the middle of the city, and yet one more little piece of the mosaic that makes San Francisco such a special place.
This documentary captures the parrots and their human benefactor in great detail. Mark Bittner is beyond just a quirky guy who happens to love these birds. It also documents his Buddhist/zen view of himself and life and how his relationship with the birds changes his self perception and outlook. In addition to the story about Bittner and the birds, the viewer gets to see a part of San Francisco that you might otherwise miss.
You feel the sadness when Bittner is no longer able to take care of the birds and one of the main bird characters dies shortly after.
If there's a small complaint, the film arguably occasionally suffers from a lack of pacing, but the surprise ending is great.
In case you're wondering about the flock, I can tell you that I was in San Francisco again recently, and the parrots are alive and well. The individual bird characters may be gone, but as Bittner says in the movie much more eloquently than I can here, we're all (birds and people) drops in the river. And the river keeps flowing.
 2003's March of the Penguins February 13, 2006
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
If you liked 2005's March of the Penguins, you'll love 2003's The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill! Like the more recent film, Telegraph Hill follows a particular group of birds in their "natural" habitat, which surprisingly is San Francisco. Telegraph Hill also adds a human element in the form of Mark Bittner, the aimless and practically homeless aging hippie who becomes a de facto caregiver for the flock.
Exactly how a group of tropical, wild parrots came to be living in populated San Francisco no one knows for sure, although the film features locals offering several different theories. Clearly, the stars of this movie are the birds themselves, but caretaker Bittner does an excellent job of helping the view get to know the flock just as he did, a filmmaker Judy Irving wonderfully showcases the personalities of these beautiful creatures.
Although the documentary comes in at just under 1 1/2 hours, the DVD offers plenty of bonus footage, including Mark Bittner's home movies, a more detailed history of the flock, deleted scenes, and an update on the flock's progress since the close of the film. Overall, this is a wonderfully engaging movie about one of the world's most fascinating and stunning species.
True San Francisco story about devotion to and the love for a flock of birds February 7, 2006
I've seen the flock of parrots while in San Francisco. I'm now determined to catch a glimpse of them close up.
Mark Bittner, one of the two lead characters in this touching documentary (the other being the flock of parrots), is not "homeless", but he has no visible means of support. For years he has cared for this flock of birds, not out of necessity for the flock, but out of a desire to simply care for them. As one man comments, Mr. Bittner is a modern day St. Francis of Assissi.
This is an odd topic for a documentary. It isn't about parrots in their native South America. It isn't about a homeless man. It's about a man with no job who cares for and studies a flock of non-native conures living in and around Telegraph Hill in San Francisco.
Surprisingly, we are priviledged to meet Mr. Bittner and see that he has been fortunate enough to have people on Telegraph Hill (which is one of the most expensive locations in San Francisco) not only allow him to "squat" in a guest house on their property, but they pay for his electricity and other utilities...all in the name of upholding the unique character of San Francisco and as a nod toward his work with the parrots.
Birds definitely have personality and this movie lets us see that. And no worthwhile documentary could be complete without sorrow - there is plenty here - but you won't find any sympathy being requested from Mr. Bittner.
Take a chance on this film. I think you'll love it!
ah, the beauty of true love... February 2, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
A lovely movie about a loving man and his lovable flock of friends. It made me laugh and cry and feel good about being alive. What more can you desire? Wonderful.
Bird Lovers February 1, 2006
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Anyone who loves birds will enjoy this movie. Non birdlovers will be bored. I liked it a lot!
|
|
|
Wildlife, nature and the Environment
Sponsored Links
Learn how to get your own Amazon Book shop | |
