The Good
This film really touches on the relationship between pets and their owners.
The Bad
This movie could have played a lot better for me at 70 minutes.
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is an engagingly, charming film about a man named Mark Bittner and the birds he “takes care of.” While not something for people who want movies with constant explosions, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is one of those films that lives and breathes within the quiet moments that owners enjoy with their pets. Bittner, a free spirit, very much embodies the parrots that he dotes over. While I was trying to figure out how he tells the feathery creatures apart, he was busy letting them crawl all over him in their quest for food.
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When I saw this movie in the theater, I expected a bit more and as a result my review may have been a touch negative. Revisiting this movie on DVD, I can happily say that I finally get it. This isn’t the kind of film that has an us vs. them angle. In all honesty, taking place in San Francisco is about as political as this movie gets. However, it’s really nice to see someone like Bittner who has devoted his life to the creatures he cares about.
Features
Flock Update
This segment is one that will make viewers very happy. Having Mark Bittner leave, although sad in the film, also proves him correct in the fact that the Parrots have survived just fine without him. In fact, when he shows up to call on his friends there seems to be a genuine sense of happiness amongst the flock. In his absence, the birds have done everything they normally did and it is really good to see that they are okay.
Deleted Scenes
There are 7 deleted scenes total. Some of their titles are “Urban Legends,” “Ashley’s Release,” “Babies” and “Theo.” For deleted scenes shot on video they have done a fine job here. They play with all the narration and warmth of the film itself, and hearing Mark Bittner’s voice lets us know that he will always be connected to these birds. My favorite of all the excised scenes was the “Urban Legends” segment, simply because we get to hear where some people think these birds came from.
Short Films
The short films that make up this collection are “Homage to Connor,” “Mingus at the Oasis,” “Mark’s Home Movies” and “California Quail.” While I think all of these films are worth at least one look, my favorite piece is when Mark Bittner goes to visit Mingus. Having lost my cat of 21 years over the summer, I got pretty choked up to see that Mingus still “danced” when Bittner played his guitar. Its’ just another reminder of the connection we have to our pets.
Music Video
This is for the song “Dogen, Connor and Tupelo” that is performed by Roberta Fabiano. This might be something for people to watch before they have screened the movie. It basically encapsulates the larger story viewers are going to see. We see shots of the birds and essentially get at the heart of Mark Bittner’s relationship to them. Good work, even if the song doesn’t leave a lot to the imagination.
Video
Full Screen - I want to say that this movie was shot on video but it appears that an effect of some sort has been added to it. There is a richness to the images (or maybe I am just mistaking that with the characters in the film) that gives this movie a very ethereal feel. It is moody but in a very upbeat and positive way. I can think of few films that blend the idea of human and animal relations with a solid narrative that also drives the story. Usually, films trade one over the other but The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill never has to make that distinction.
Audio
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. I didn’t notice that much about the audio that grabbed me. While the main music that underscores the scenes really isn’t my cup of tea, Mark Bittner is the perfect person to narrate this movie. Sometimes the audio and video styles seem to get lost in themselves, but this only happens sparingly and it really doesn’t take away from the film. In all honesty, my favorite moments are when he’s talking or we are just left to observe the birds to underscore a point or idea Bittner might be making.
Package
We have three birds on the front cover eating some seeds out of Mark Bittner’s (I think) hand. Who could look at this cover and slag this film? With a blue sky as the wrap around color for this cover, the back gives us critic’s quote, some pictures of the birds (and their names), a well written description of this movie, a “DVD Features” section, a cast list and some technical specs. With a front cover that is splattered with quotes from critics, it is very apparent that the low budget nature of this movie didn’t hinder it’s prospects in the marketplace.
Final Word
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is the kind of movie that I think is perfectly suited for home video. In a movie theater I just didn’t find that the narrative of the story really translated that well. On DVD, it worked for me because I think that at it’s heart, this movie is something made for the nature channel. While I know that The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill found a lot of success in the theatrical realm, I would not be surprised to find out that it does two to three times better on home video. This is one of those movies that just needs the time to sink in, and in the comfort of one’s home I feel that this movie now has that time.
Packed with extras that continue the story, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is the complete package.
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill was released October 9, 2003.
