The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2005)
91%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 2 nominations
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is a delightful and heartwarming documentary that showcases the beauty and intelligence of these colorful birds. Director Judy Irving captures the essence of the human-animal bond through the story of Mark Bittner, an eccentric man who forms a unique relationship with a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco. The film is a visual feast, with stunning shots of the city’s landscape and the birds in flight. But what makes this documentary truly special is its ability to transcend its subject matter and offer a profound commentary on the nature of compassion, empathy, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. It’s a must-see for anyone who loves animals, nature, or simply a good story.
Who knew that a documentary about wild parrots could be so captivating? The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is a delightful film that showcases the beauty and charm of these feathered creatures. From the stunning shots of San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill to the heartwarming relationship between the parrots and their caretaker, this film is a must-see for anyone who loves animals. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of a bustling city, there is still a world of wonder and magic waiting to be discovered. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and prepare to fall in love with these brave and beautiful birds.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Studio Canal, Working Title Films,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
San Francisco, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
2005
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 13, 2005
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, parrots, San Francisco, animal care, Mark Bittner, music, individual identities, human-animal relationship, homelessness, Judy Irving, produced by Judy Irving, G rating, critic reviews, Nell Minow, Roger Moore, Steven D Greydanus, Marta Barber, Matt McNally, Peter Howell, Mattie Lucas, Dorothy Woodend, David Keyes, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Kam Williams, audience reviews, heartwarming, educational, quirky personalities, travelogue, box office performance, budget, actor names, director names, writer names, producer names, MPAA rating
Worldwide gross: $3,218,709
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,905,259
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,183
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 534,925
US/Canada gross: $3,058,527
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,661,144
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,828
US/Canada opening weekend: $36,731
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $55,977
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,163
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Judy Irving – Producer
Director(s)
Judy Irving
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (101) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (96) | Rotten (5)
Fall in love with these brave and beautiful birds.
December 29, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
May 13, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
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.
February 10, 2006 | Rating: B
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
The beautiful shots of San Francisco’s lush Telegraph Hill are captivating by themselves, but the film’s greatest achievement is its humanity.
December 9, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
In the spirit of all good documentaries, Wild Parrots transcends its ostensive subject.
December 6, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Matt McNally
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
A bright window into the wild kingdom just outside our door that most of us barely notice, if at all.
July 15, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Nothing if not an enthralling experience.
June 5, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Mattie Lucas
The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)
First penguins, now parrots: who would have thought that the bird-brained would have so much to teach us about humanity?
August 24, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
A gentle document about the romanticism between a man and his wild pets, all of whom depend on his good nature to persist in a strange cycle of existence among the threatening neighborhoods of San Francisco.
February 8, 2016
David Keyes
Cinemaphile.org
Profile of a gentle, caring, and sensitive man who models for us the empathy and respect we should have for all animals large and small.
July 25, 2012 | Rating: 5/5
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality & Practice
A documentary which captures an eccentric ornithologist communing with his flock with an intimacy that’s almost unimaginable.
May 25, 2007 | Rating: 4/4
Kam Williams
Sly Fox
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
December 9, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/5
Chris Cabin
Filmcritic.com…
Plot
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.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill features a homeless musician named Mark Bittner who forms a bond with a flock of wild South American parrots living in San Francisco.
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