If you don’t see how a documentary about a large, bearded street philosopher taking care of a mysterious flock of wild parrots in the middle of San Francisco isn’t fascinating, well, then, I don’t know what to tell you. If you are looking for the perfect date movie, this is it. (A big score for last night’s Valentine’s treat, where I had Ann keep her eyes closed as she entered the theater so she wouldn’t know what she was seeing until the picture started.) I was a little sad at the end, though, when the Big Man had to leave. . .I don’t see why he couldn’t’ve at least kept Mingus in a cage. Also, great to know there are people out there who aren’t “working” in the common, American sense, but are very much serving a community need and are supported by that community. There’s far too little of this in the world and this is a world, particularly a country, that can afford it. I’d like to visit Telegraph Hill — I used to spend some time in Woodstock, NY with an insider’s crowd and the vibe — long gray hair and instrumental guitar music, basically — is similar. The music in this film, awful in a vaccum, is perfectly suited. A great little movie. And — hats off for shooting a low budget documentary on film! I’m glad Judy Irving didn’t get the memo that 16mm was dead! Long live 16mm! Also up for discussion: did Connor commit suicide?
I live in SF and my lady friend and I saw it over the weekend. You’re right about it being a good date movie. Pretty cool thing happened after the film. We were walking to a restaurant nearby and heard a flock of birds overhead. We looked up and it was the parrots. We just happen to be in the vicinity of their roosting place.
I’d like to find the other flock that lives in the Mission, which is close to my neighborhood.