Chris Michie

Author, amateur ornithologist, and former homeless musician Mark Bittner could be called The Birdman Not Far From Alcatraz. In the spring of 1990, Bittner began a friendship with a flock of wild parrots that frequent San Francisco's famed Telegraph Hill. While he fed and cared for the spirited birds, it is clear from this astounding, poignant documentary by Judy Irving, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, that the parrots were also taking care of Bittner. As the story of Mark and the parrots began spreading, at first locally and then around the world, he found shelter, purpose, friendship, and a story that would resonate deeply: first with readers and now with moviegoers. Punctuated with a surprise ending, Parrots is a documentary that single-handedly restores respect for the label "feel good movie." Preceded by Stealing Altitude (dir. John Starr/Roger Teich, 2004, 10 min.) A stunner about the sport of parachuting from skyscrapers. (MF)… (meer)