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| 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.
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| Customer Reviews:
 We Live in Paradise May 29, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I just arrived home from experiencing The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill feeling a renewal of bliss. The documentary brings home the reality of our interconnectedness/relatedness and lends a few reminders concerning what life is really all about. I really love the sensivities of Mark Bittner. What a wonderful man! I am so happy someone loves him.
 OF PARROTS AND MEN May 19, 2005
6 out of 16 found this review helpful
A flock of escaped and born parrots are cared for and studied by a San Fransisco resident in this gentle and amiable documentary. Opening sequences of parrot caretaker, Mark Bittern, answering tourist's questions as they stroll through Telegraph Hill in San Fransisco, as if it was a zoo, and as if he was an employee of the city, are friendly and amusing introductiions to both the birds and Bittern, who becomes as much a documented study; an unemployed and somewhat aimless man who seems to have found his life's calling in caring for the birds. When the camera goes inside his apartment, which serves as a parrot hospital, the parrots take on a clown-like personae, with one appearing to really rock-out with the beat of a song Bittern plays on his guitar. Bittern, who at one time struggled to be a musician, plays a nice guitar and has a good singing voice, and the folk guitar heard throughout the film is an accomplished pleasurable score. Through the course of the filming we see a change in Bittern, he seems to have aged slightly, his frisky nature seems to be winding down to an exhaustion, as late in the film, he is passively evicted from his rent-free home, which is conveniently close to the parrot population.One feels he has run himself ragged caring for the birds and accomodating the filmmakers. This makes the undeniably happy ending all the more agreeable. There are few, if any, detailed studies of the behavior of surviving non-native escaped birds, and Bittern's notes become a definitive scientific study, even though his objectivity may be in question, with an absolute passion for the birds.The film morphs between the studies of the man and the parrots, and the incidental conclusion, left me a bit undone, with questions lingering regarding the bird's history and future, like how long has the population been existant, and what threat, if any, do they pose to native species? It's a sweet little documentay shuffling science and emotion with some very colorful characters, not all of which are feathered.
Falling in Love with Parrots May 12, 2005
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
This has got to be one of THE best movies I've ever seen. TWPOTH can be appreciated by a wide audience: people with an interest in San Francisco and its history, people drawn to Buddhism and a Buddhist-flavored way of life lived in America, bird fanciers, gentle souls, and even children. The movie offers many subtle nuggets of truth when you contemplate the behind-the-scenes ideals of this flock of wild parrots and the man who loves and cares for them. The balanced measure of the middle path between extremes. The true definition of a career. The awe and wisdom of life. The sentience of animals. The power of a single human to do good with so few resources. And the corroding effect of our modern, full-speed-ahead society that views nature as an inconvenient beast to be defeated rather than revered and honored as our life-giving coccoon. There are poignant moments of sadness, but overall, the movie flows with a wise and serene tone. Most amazing are the breath-takingly beautiful parrots, their antics, their amazing intelligence, their vivid personalities, their avian romances, and their wondrous wild existence on Telegraph Hill.
 Bird's Eye View April 16, 2005
76 out of 79 found this review helpful
Not only an endearing, entertaining and environmentally intelligent documentary, this film is also funny, thought-provoking and inspiring. The story of Mark Bittner's journey to become the expert on and the caretaker of the flock of wild parrots of Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, while he avoids most of the appearances of being connected to society or to society's values along the way, certainly makes one wonder about the importance of some of the taken-for-granted symbols of success. The respect he earns for the study of the birds is a result of the intelligence, sensitivity, and acute observation skills he brings to his passion, while he wryly maintains a charmingly self-deprecating view of himself-- even if he DOES deny being eccentric. What's wrong with eccentric?
It is a movie about the parrots as much as about Mark. If you can watch this movie and not be convinced of the individuality of the birds' personalities, then you are hopelessly anthropocentric. If you watch Mingus dance and are not convinced he's enjoying the music, or if Connor's story in no way moves you, then you may have become far too limited in your view of the world; a bird's eye view is certainly called for. This is a quirky and lovely story, lovingly told. I did not find the ending to be a surprise, as many did, but agree that it was uplifting.
Congratulations to director Judy Irving. Like the other reviewers, I will buy the DVD because this is one I'll want to see again over time. A-
Great local flavor! April 15, 2005
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
We all loved this movie. We live in San Francisco, but not in Telegraph Hill, and I'd heard about the parrots but hadn't ever seen them. So, after seeing it for the second time, we went looking for the parrots. We first found the cottage where Mark lived (now re-furbished) and just a few minutes later, the parrots came squawking overhead! What an experience. I loved seeing so many beautiful things about my own city, and loved the experience that it led me to.
The movie explores interesting questions, as well. What do we do with people who don't fit into our cultural expectations? Mark is a person who lives, not by working a 9 to 5 and paying rent. He lives a much more organic kind of life. Is this a sustainable model? I don't know, but I'd like to think that we could all follow our passions and live more organic lives.
And it's really amazing how the movie lets you know the parrots. I had no idea I'd ever think of parrots as having individual personalities, but the movie definitely does that! And I'm finding myself more connected with nature and other animals.
I also don't buy many DVDs, but I'll buy this one as soon as it comes out....and a few extra copies for friends who live far away but love San Francisco.
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Wildlife, nature and the Environment
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