In the heart of Manhattan, high above Central Park, a wondrous drama unfolds. Filmed over a six-year period and narrated by Joanne Woodward, Pale Male is a delightful, emotionally gripping documentary that tells the story of a predatory Red-Tailed Hawk known as "Pale Male" due to its lighter-than-average coloring, and familiar to New Yorkers as perhaps the most famous resident of Manhattan's rich-and-famous Fifth Avenue neighborhood. Beginning in 1991 and continuing now for over a decade, Pale Male has taken mates, raised over 20 hatchlings, and gained a large and loyal following of nature-loving humans as he commands his nest just across from Woody Allen's balcony and a few floors above Mary Tyler Moore's apartment. Pigeon-lovers resent the hawk's unlikely presence in the city (in addition to rats and squirrels, Pale Male kills several pigeons a day to feed his family), but Pale Male emphasizes the sublimity of the hawk's daily survival among the Big Apple's concrete corridors and skyscrapers. It's an inspiring example of nature's perseverance, especially thrilling when Pale Male's offspring take wing on their fledgling flights above Central Park. The unusual harmony of humankind and nature is a rare sight to behold; kudos to filmmaker Frederic Lilien for capturing extraordinary images with praiseworthy patience and tenacity. An ALA Notable Videos for Adults 2003 choice, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Shannon)
Pale Male
(2002) 54 min. VHS or DVD: $19.95. Frederic Lilien Productions (dist. by CustomFlix). Color cover. Volume 19, Issue 5
Pale Male
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