Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service
I got to see an advance copy of this film and it is incredibly well done. Takes you from laughing to crying to reflection while exploring the multi-faceted ways in which society interacts with and views the natural world through the story of the reported rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
Jeff
US Premiere of Ghost Bird takes flight at the Maine International Film Festival.
Following its SOLD OUT World Premiere at the Hot Doc's Film Festival in Toronto, the environmental documentary Ghost Bird has its US Premiere at the Maine International Film Festival Saturday, July 11th. Ghost Bird chronicles the controversial rediscovery of the Ivory-billed woodpecker in the swamps of eastern Arkansas in 2004. On a deeper level the film explores species extinction and how the collision of politics, culture, and science shape our understanding of the disappearing natural world. Ultimately, Ghost Bird brings the Ivory-bill's blurry rediscovery into focus, revealing our uneasy relationship with nature and the increasing uncertainty of our place within it. The film stars David Sibley, Nancy Tanner and Dr. Jerome Jackson, and features a sound track including The Black Keys, The Pixies, The White Stripes and an original score by avant-cellist Zoë Keating.
Ghost Bird premieres in Waterville on Friday, July 11th at 3:30. Two additional screenings follow on Saturday the 12th at 12:30 and on Monday the 13th at 9:30 PM. NEW SCREENING ADDED: Saturday July 18th at 3:30 The Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
"Comic, mesmerizing and deeply poignant…reminiscent of the work of Errol Morris." Brian Johnson, Maclean's
"An excellent new documentary." Bruce Kirkland, Toronto Sun
"The often thrilling birdwatcher doc…insightfully tallies up the economic, environmental and social ramifications of the event…while drawing apt parallels to Bush's war on terror." Radheyan Simonpillai, Now Magazine
"Smart and insightful...never stops short of being captivating." Robert Bell, exclaim!
"Philosophical and lyrical." Kelly Anderson, realscreen
"The film searches for a bird and instead finds a zeitgeist." Angie Driscoll, programmer, Hot Docs
The film's web site can be viewed here: www.ghostbirdmovie.com
Here's the official trailer:
