The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL is an award-winning feature documentary about the remarkable relationship between a homeless street musician and a flock of wild green-and-red parrots. Mark Bittner, a homeless street musician in San Francisco, falls in with the flock as he searches for meaning in his life, unaware that the wild parrots will bring him everything he needs. The film celebrates urban wildness, Bohemian and avian, and links the parrots’ antics to human behavior. A surprise ending ties the themes together and completes Mark’s search for meaning.

Distributed originally by Shadow Distribution, THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL, still the 4th highest grossing documentary about animals, flew to over 500 theatrical venues across the country during 2005. The film has become a San Francisco classic, and the wild parrot flock — now numbering about 300 birds — has tourists “flocking” to Telegraph Hill, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous red-and-green birds.

Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post describes the subtheme of the film that most people don’t expect from an animal documentary: “A thoroughly absorbing portrait of one man’s discipline and commitment — and, yes, spiritual transformation….Quite simply, a beautiful film, in both form and content. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. And your heart is guaranteed to soar.”

THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL was a smash hit at the Avalon in 2005 and plays as the selection of the 2000s in our year long, decade-by-decade, 100 Years of Cinema Magic Centennial series. The Washington Post‘s Ann Hornaday will host a post screening conversation with director Judy Irving and film subject Mark Bittner who will both join us via zoom.

One Show Only, Sunday, August 20 at 10:30AM.