All too often, the pace and anxiety of modern life blinds us from the typical parts of our experience we tend to overlook. When this dilemma grows to a boiling point, we are forced to ask ourselves questions we may not normally consider: What makes me happy? Who am I? And, How can I make this world a better place? While the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is indeed an extraordinary story, it touches on the core of these universal questions. The film introduces self-dubbed "Dharma Bum" Mark Bittner as he is barely scraping to get by in life, living on the streets of San Francisco, when he meets a flock of parrots. Bittner's fascination with the parrots leads him to follow their flock and gradually begin to win their trust. The ensuing story is all at once a hilarious comedy about his winged companions, both filled with tragedy, love and finally redemption as Bittner explores the unique relationships he has with each bird. While some critics claim he anthropomorphizes the animals during his narration, I would disagree. Instead of projecting himself onto the birds as "pets", Bittner exposes the implicit connection we have with all creatures, whether birds or humans, and reminds us that the lines we draw between all animals are ultimately very arbitrary. The director, Judy Irving illustrates this connection beautifully, using vivid, up-close photography of the birds and how they express themselves with the rest of the flock. Although some may contend that her style of editing makes for a boring rhythm, I believe that she purposely embraces a slower pace in order to make the viewer ask themselves the same question every "homeless seeker of truth" must ask: "Who am I."? And so, when I left the theater, remembering the cockatiel I once loved like a friend, I asked myself those same questions. It's been 6 months since I saw the movie, and it's still on my mind. I'm glad that there were enough people who appreciated this story to get it distributed, so that more people got the chance to experience this excellent film.
Review of The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
