san francisco zen

At Christmas I bought myself the Blockbuster Coupon set, a great savings on their overpriced rentals. After only one month, I am already saving myself money, so it was $20 well-spent.

I can get three rentals for the price of two, which I love because sometimes it's nice to have your own film festival.

I have never been to San Francisco, and I have never seen it filmed as beautifully as in the documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. This is a charming film, finely and intelligently edited. It is about wild parrots in San Francisco, but it is more about the ordinary man, Mark Bittner, who takes it upon himself to care for them, and how that naturally progresses to something more encompassing.

I don't own a lot of films, but am thinking of buying a copy of this, because its beauty and honesty linger.

Near the beginning of this film is a revelatory bit of music sung by Jack Kerouac. I never knew he sang, and if there's more out there by him, I don't know why it hasn't been released. (And to answer my own question).

If you rent it, watch the extra features, as they give even more background and follow-up.