A Birder's Guide to Everything

A Birder's Guide to Everything
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRob Meyer
Written by
Produced by
  • Kristen Duncan Fuller
  • Lisa K. Jenkins
  • Dan Lindau
  • R. Paul Miller
Starring
CinematographyTom Richmond
Edited byVito DeSario
Music byJeremy Turner
Production
companies
  • Dreamily Pictures
  • Escape Pictures
  • Lavender Pictures
Distributed by
Release dates
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

A Birder's Guide to Everything is a 2013 independent film starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alex Wolff, Michael Chen, Katie Chang, James Le Gros, Daniela Lavender and Sir Ben Kingsley.[1] It was written by Rob Meyer and Luke Matheny and directed by Rob Meyer. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2013,[2] and was released in a limited release and through video on demand on March 21, 2014, by Screen Media Films and Focus Features.[3]

Premise

The film follows the story of teenage birders who go on a road trip to find the (possibly) extinct Labrador duck. It was based on Rob Meyer's short film "Aquarium" which won an Honorable Mention at Sundance in 2008. Kenn Kaufman was an ornithological consultant and appears in the film at approximately 74 minutes.

Cast

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2013.[2] Shortly after it was announced Screen Media Films and Focus Features had acquired distribution rights to the film.[4] The film went on to screen at the Austin Film Festival on October 26, 2013.[5] and was released in a limited release and through video on demand on March 21, 2014.[3]

Reception

The film opened to very positive reviews from critics.[6] It holds a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 21 reviews. The New York Times described it as a "smart, likeable, coming of age film [...] an eye opener for anyone who takes the everyday natural world for granted."[7] USA Today wrote that "not since Rob Reiner's Stand by Me has such a compelling rite-of-passage film emerged."[8]

The Guardian wrote that "you don't have to be a birder to enjoy it. The movie shows that seeking the rare and elusive is often more than just a physical quest; it also is a spiritual journey that changes the seeker."[9]

References

  1. ^ arrieve (21 April 2013). "A Birder's Guide to Everything (2013)". IMDb.
  2. ^ a b "Birder's Guide to Everything - Tribeca Film Festival". Tribeca.
  3. ^ a b "A Birder's Guide To Everything - Teaser Trailer". teaser-trailer.com.
  4. ^ The Deadline Team. "Focus World, Screen Media Acquire 'A Birder's Guide To Everything'". Deadline.
  5. ^ Austin Film Festival. "THE 2013 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 20TH ANNIVERSARY FILM LINEUP". austinfilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-24.
  6. ^ "A Birder's Guide To Everything". rottentomatoes.com. 21 March 2014.
  7. ^ Holden, Stephen (March 20, 2014). "In Search of a Duck, and a Way Through That Awkward Age". Retrieved February 23, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  8. ^ Terry Byrne (10 March 2014). "'Birder's Guide' turns binoculars on teens". USA TODAY.
  9. ^ GrrlScientist. "A birder's guide to everything - review - @GrrlScientist". the Guardian.