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The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
User Score
9.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30

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  1. JeffS.
    May 20, 2005
    10
    This surprisingly compelling documentary about an apparent urban slacker and his parrot pals caught me off guard with its real world poignancy and the happiest surprise ending in memory. Grown men and women, many jaded from their diets of too many art films, "ahhhed" with shared joy and laughter as the film ended. With hindsight, I now understand how the director could have crafted such a clever, truthful and loving film.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. N.P.
    Mar 4, 2005
    10
    A wonderful documentary--surprising, humorous, sad, fascinating, fun, and touching--it will leave you feeling enriched.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. MarkK.
    Jun 9, 2007
    8
    A nice documentary! Try to push March of the Penguins out for your memory, and you will enjoy it more.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. JohnC.
    Feb 14, 2005
    10
    Trust me on this, you will love this movie. A roller coaster of emotion and surprises. A beautifully crafted gem.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. JohnM.
    Mar 1, 2005
    10
    This should absolutely not be missed. It informs us as much on our own species as it does on parrots. The music is good too.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. MontserratP.
    Mar 4, 2005
    10
    Loved it!!!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. MarkP.
    Apr 30, 2005
    10
    Absolutely loved this film!!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  8. steves.
    Apr 5, 2005
    10
    Very good, would love to get a dvd of the film, I live in a small town that will never get the film. Page, AZ. Great film. Steve.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  9. MikeR
    Apr 9, 2005
    10
    A marvellous look at the relationship between and among humans and birds. Well written, beautifully conveyed, touching and uplifting - a must see!!!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  10. CarrieC.
    May 21, 2005
    10
    Couldn't keep from cying at the end but it was an incredible movie to see.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  11. glom
    May 8, 2005
    10
    Very touching- Throughly enjoyed it. I dragged my two children 10 & 11yrs to this movie not know anything other than homeless man feeding birds. This movie related so much to our own lives it was a god send. We too feed the neighboring Jays, in transistion w/landlord selling our home of 11yrs. This movie gave us hope that in every situation there is a silver lining in every dark cloud. Just go with the flow.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  12. LJFerguson
    Feb 13, 2005
    9
    Delightful movie. Don't miss it.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  13. RichP.
    Feb 19, 2005
    10
    This is really a fantastic documentary that shows when you slow down enough to see the world around you, there are some facinating things to see. While stories like this usually focus on the person (and Mark Bittner is a really facinating guy), it's the parrots steal the show with distinct personalities of their own. But just when you become attached to them, you realize that wild means wild and these are not pets. It's funny, it's sad and it really has to be seen. Great photography.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  14. M.O'Keeffe
    Mar 21, 2005
    10
    A glorious movie. Signed, a former bird hater.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  15. EarlV.
    Apr 17, 2005
    10
    Charming and powerfully understated. The director has a instinct for comic timing and a talent for making the story personal and emotionally moving. The parrots are beautiful to watch, and the relationships even more so. Best date movie ever!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  16. Sharon
    May 13, 2005
    10
    Introspectively uplifting. A Zen Koan on film.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  17. JamesD.
    Jul 6, 2005
    10
    Great film about interacting with animals and each other. Relates information about a world we walk past every day without really seeing. All the hallmarks of great filmmaking...a story told with drama, comedy and tragedy.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  18. HughS.
    Aug 20, 2005
    10
    Excellent in every way. We have a 20 year old rescued Cherry Head so we could appreciate many of the finer nuances.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  19. ConnieH.
    May 30, 2007
    10
    Being the owner of a Blue Crowned and White Eyed conure this movie moved me to tears. It showed the individual personalities of each one of these birds. They are so similar to human being in that they love their mates and nuture their young. They truly are intelligent, magnificient creatures.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  20. grace
    Mar 16, 2005
    10
    Excellent!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  21. RickH.
    Jun 22, 2005
    10
    One of the best films I've seen all year. At least as good as winged migration.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  22. ChadS.
    Aug 22, 2005
    7
    "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" might've benefited by a word or two by those "Draconian enviromentalists". We love the pretty birds, but if they're doing harm to the native bird population, do you just ignore it because the subject of this sometimes engaging documentary is a nice guy. There's a tremendous irony in Mark Bittner's acknowledgment of the more common local birds towards the end of the film, because it's like he's looking back on his previous incarnation as a "dharma bum", embodied by these birds who blend into the San Francisco landscape without notice. Like the birds, Bittner was anonymous. Now he's more like a parrot. Even though his observations of the native birds plays like the filmmaker's last-ditch effort to appease the conservationists, it doesn't come close to hurting the inspiring human interest story of a Henry Darger-type getting a new lease in life.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  23. L.Maier
    Feb 22, 2006
    10
    This movie gives the truest human response to our species as having 'dominion over the animals.' We are here to nuture, to support and to commune with our neighbors of this earth. And, as one who has recently inherited and has been getting to know a parrot, I know Mark knows the deeply gentle spirituality of this species, and the great (and hidden) gift they are to this world.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
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Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Robert K. Elder
    88
    The kind of well-crafted, character-driven work that wows regional film festival crowds and public television audiences but seldom gets seen outside those circles.
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  2. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Phil Hall
    100
    This is an excellent movie -- by all means, flock to it!
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  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Dennis Harvey
    70
    A charming look at the mildly eccentric man who gained modest feature-page celebrity for his familiarity with San Francisco's tropical parrot flock.
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