Movie: Pelican Dreams

  • HomePage

  • Overview

    Sundance-and-Emmy-Award-winning filmmaker Judy Irving (with her first film since the widely acclaimed and loved “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill”) follows a wayward California brown pelican from her “arrest” on the Golden Gate Bridge into care at a wildlife rehabilitation facility, and from there explores pelicans’ nesting grounds, Pacific coast migration, and survival challenges of these ancient birds, sometimes referred to as the flying dinosaurs. The film is about wildness, and asks the following questions: how close can we get to a wild animal without taming or harming it? Why do we need wildness in our lives, and how can we protect it? PELICAN DREAMS, stars “Gigi” (for Golden Gate) and Morro (a backyard pelican with an injured wing).

  • Release Date

    2014-11-07

  • Average

    7.7

  • Rating:

    3.9 starts
  • Tagline

  • Genres

  • Languages:

    English
  • Keywords

Recommendations Movies

Mountain
69%

Mountain(en)

2017-11-30

An epic cinematic and musical collaboration between SHERPA filmmaker Jennifer Peedom and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, that explores humankind's fascination with high places.

Powaqqatsi
73%

Powaqqatsi(en)

1988-04-29

An exploration of technologically developing nations and the effect the transition to Western-style modernization has had on them.

The Last Lions
72%

The Last Lions(en)

2011-02-11

In Botswana's Okavango Delta, an ostracized lioness and her two cubs must fight alone to survive - overcoming all manner of hazards. Their only defense is to escape to Duba Island -- and with that, an unknown future. The setting for this epic tale is one of the last regions where lions can live in the wild. Faced with dwindling land and increasing pressure from hunting, lions - like our lone lioness and her cubs - are approaching the brink of extinction.

Koyaanisqatsi
79%

Koyaanisqatsi(en)

1983-04-27

Takes us to locations all around the US and shows us the heavy toll that modern technology is having on humans and the earth. The visual tone poem contains neither dialogue nor a vocalized narration: its tone is set by the juxtaposition of images and the exceptional music by Philip Glass.

Dancing with the Birds
77%

Dancing with the Birds(en)

2019-10-23

Some of the world's most majestic birds display delightfully captivating mating rituals, from flashy dancing to flaunting their colorful feathers.

Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
75%

Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds(en)

2017-01-11

An intimate portrait of Hollywood royalty featuring Debbie Reynolds, Todd Fisher, and Carrie Fisher.

Deep Blue
69%

Deep Blue(en)

2003-05-18

Deep Blue is a major documentary feature film shot by the BBC Natural History Unit. An epic cinematic rollercoaster ride for all ages, Deep Blue uses amazing footage to tell us the story of our oceans and the life they support.

Katy Perry: Part of Me
72%

Katy Perry: Part of Me(en)

2012-06-28

Giving fans unprecedented access to the real life of the music sensation, Katy Perry: Part of Me exposes the hard work, dedication and phenomenal talent of a girl who remained true to herself and her vision in order to achieve her dreams. Featuring rare behind-the-scenes interviews, personal moments between Katy and her friends, and all-access footage of rehearsals, choreography, Katy’s signature style and more, Katy Perry: Part of Me reveals the singer’s unwavering belief that if you can be yourself, then you can be anything.

Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me
61%

Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me(en)

2023-05-16

From the heights of her modeling fame to her tragic death, this documentary reveals Anna Nicole Smith through the eyes of the people closest to her.

Naqoyqatsi
61%

Naqoyqatsi(en)

2002-09-02

A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.

Audrey
71%

Audrey(en)

2020-11-30

An unprecedented and intimate look at the life, work and enduring legacy of British actress Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993).

The Core
58%

The Core(en)

2003-03-28

Geophysicist Dr. Josh Keyes discovers that an unknown force has caused the earth's inner core to stop rotating. With the planet's magnetic field rapidly deteriorating, our atmosphere literally starts to come apart at the seams with catastrophic consequences. To resolve the crisis, Keyes, along with a team of the world's most gifted scientists, travel into the earth's core. Their mission: detonate a device that will reactivate the core.

Earth
76%

Earth(en)

2007-10-10

An epic story of adventure, starring some of the most magnificent and courageous creatures alive, awaits you in EARTH. Disneynature brings you a remarkable story of three animal families on a journey across our planet – polar bears, elephants and humpback whales.

Blackfish
78%

Blackfish(en)

2013-06-07

Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.

Being James Bond
78%

Being James Bond(en)

2021-08-29

Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15 year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from Casino Royale to the upcoming 25th film No Time To Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

The Meerkats
68%

The Meerkats(en)

2008-10-15

A coming of age story following a young meerkat pup, Kolo, growing up in the Kalahari desert; and an inspiring look at how one family's connection to each other and their surroundings is a model of resilience and fortitude for us all. Shot using ground-breaking techniques, this dramatised documentary is a one-of-a-kind presentation from The Weinstein Company and the BBC, featuring narration by Paul Newman.

Fire of Love
76%

Fire of Love(en)

2022-07-06

A doomed love triangle between intrepid French scientists Katia and Maurice Krafft, and their beloved volcanoes.

Nothing Like a Dame
68%

Nothing Like a Dame(en)

2018-05-02

BBC Arena's documentary on the Dames of British Theatre and film featuring Maggie Smith, Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench and Joan Plowright on screen together for the first time as they reminisce over a long summer weekend in a house Joan once shared with Sir Laurence Olivier.

A Plastic Ocean
75%

A Plastic Ocean(en)

2016-09-22

A documentary focused on plastic pollution in the world's oceans.

Frida
68%

Frida(en)

2024-03-08

An intimately raw and magical journey through the life, mind, and heart of iconic artist Frida Kahlo. Told through her own words for the very first time — drawn from her diary, revealing letters, essays, and print interviews — and brought vividly to life by lyrical animation inspired by her unforgettable artwork.

Similar Movies

Genesis
62%

Genesis(en)

2004-09-26

An African narrator tells the story of earth history, the birth of the universe and evolution of life. Beautiful imagery makes this movie documentary complete.

Persecution Blues: the Battle for the Tote!
63%

Persecution Blues: the Battle for the Tote!(en)

2011-07-28

In 2010, the iconic Tote Hotel – last bastion of Melbourne’s vibrant music counterculture – was forced to close by unfair laws. Filmed over 7 years, “Persecution Blues” depicts the struggle of more than 20,000 fans – and the bands who inspire them – to preserve their history and protect their future, and puts the audience on the front line of an epic-scale culture war.

Being Caribou
80%

Being Caribou(en)

2005-05-02

Wildlife biologist Karsten Heuer and his wife, environmentalist Leanne Allison follow a herd of 120,000 caribou on foot across 1500 km of Arctic tundra, hoping to raise awareness of the threats to the caribou's survival. Along this journey, they brave torrid conditions, dangerous wildlife and treacherous terrain all in the hopes of learning the truth about this epic migration.

The Baby Formula
35%

The Baby Formula(en)

2008-07-10

Two adventurous women in love are desperate to have their own biological child. They take a chance on an experimental scientific process and make sperm from their own stem cells. Pregnant with humor and unexpected twists, their journey ultimately confirms that all life is a gift and all families are crazy.

Masai Mara: The Big Hunt
90%

Masai Mara: The Big Hunt(en)

2018-08-08

See the great migration as never before! The Mara River, nature’s best laid trap for migratory animals, is the stage for a grandiose spectacle. When food supply in the Serengeti dwindles, the Masai Mara is a paradise for predators. As the black wildebeests, gazelles, zebras and antelopes make their yearly trip from the south of the Serengeti to the north, nature’s best laid trap, the Mara River in Kenya is waiting ahead. Captivating shots filmed under water show how crocodiles prepare for the Big Hunt while other predators lurk on the banks awaiting their bounty.

Edgeplay: A Film About The Runaways
58%

Edgeplay: A Film About The Runaways(en)

2004-10-07

"EDGEPLAY: A film about The Runaways" chronicles the rise and disintegration of the seminal '70's all-teenage-girl rock band The Runaways, whose members included then-unknown future rock stars Lita Ford and Joan Jett. The film explores the effects of verbal, emotional and psychological abuse on girls too young to drink, but old enough for sex, drugs and rock n' roll. Written by Sacred Dogs Entertainment

Gypsy Caravan: When the Road Bends
73%

Gypsy Caravan: When the Road Bends(en)

2006-04-30

A brief look into Romany culture and Rom (Gypsies) from around the globe as five famous Romany groups tour the USA.

Naked Spaces: Living Is Round
63%

Naked Spaces: Living Is Round(en)

1985-10-01

Shot with stunning elegance and clarity, NAKED SPACES explores the rhythm and ritual of life in the rural environments of six West African countries (Mauritania, Mali, Burkino Faso, Togo, Benin and Senegal). The nonlinear structure of NAKED SPACES challenges the traditions of ethnographic filmmaking, while sensuous sights and sounds lead the viewer on a poetic journey to the most inaccessible parts of the African continent: the private interaction of people in their living spaces.

Promised Lands
56%

Promised Lands(fr)

1974-07-11

Susan Sontag scrutinizes the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict and the growing divisions within Jewish thought over the question of Palestinian sovereignty. Shot in Israel during the final days of the Yom Kippur War. Promised Lands is less straight documentary than visual collage. There are images of combat zones and soldiers, but also everyday street life, desert landscapes, funerals, supermarkets, the Wailing Wall. The soundtrack is snatches of radio, bursts of church bells and gunfire, and an extended voiceover from two politically opposed Israeli thinkers.

From Scotland with Love
70%

From Scotland with Love(en)

2014-06-22

Made entirely of Scottish film archive, a journey into our collective past, the film explores universal themes of love, loss, resistance, migration, work and play. Ordinary people, some long since dead, their names and identities largely forgotten, appear shimmering from the depth of the vaults to take a starring role. Brilliantly edited together, these silent individuals become composite characters, who emerge to tell us their stories, given voice by King Creosote's poetic music and lyrics

Mine
69%

Mine(en)

2009-03-01

A story about the essential bond between humans and animals told against the backdrop of one of the worst natural disasters in the U.S.

Train On The Brain
65%

Train On The Brain(en)

2000-01-14

Alison Murray travels as a hobo on freight trains across Canada and the US. She gets to know the community of train riders, especially the many girls riding the rails.

Michael Ballhaus - Eine Reise durch mein Leben
0%

Michael Ballhaus - Eine Reise durch mein Leben(de)

2008-12-16

One of Germany's stars of cinematography, embarks on the journey through his life. The film begins in the US and Hollywood - where Ballhaus established his international fame.

Before Stonewall
65%

Before Stonewall(en)

1984-09-15

New York City's Stonewall Inn is regarded by many as the site of gay and lesbian liberation since it was at this bar that drag queens fought back against police June 27-28, 1969. This documentary uses extensive archival film, movie clips and personal recollections to construct an audiovisual history of the gay community before the Stonewall riots.

Film Title Poem
43%

Film Title Poem(en)

2016-07-15

Film Title Poem is comprised of over 500 film title cards.

Dealing Dogs
60%

Dealing Dogs(en)

2006-01-30

An undercover investigation of Martin Creek Kennel is carried out by the animal rights group Last Chance for Animals. The film documents the efforts of a young animal rights activist named "Pete" to both get hired by the Martin Creek Kennel and secure enough evidence to shut down owner C.C. Baird's violation-filled kennel.

Der Sturm - Tiere bei Blitz und Donner
74%

Der Sturm - Tiere bei Blitz und Donner(de)

2023-09-13

Violent squalls, hail, waterspouts, lightning... storms put animals and plants to the test. At a time when climate change is multiplying extreme weather events, this documentary plunges into the heart of a storm, from the heavy, dry atmosphere that precedes it to the deluge that follows.

The Secret World of Plants
70%

The Secret World of Plants(en)

2003-01-01

The secret world of plants gets us closer to these motionless and quiet creatures, so attractive and surprising as the rest of the living creatures. The documentary reveals the most unknown aspects of the vegetable kingdom. We learn about the secret of the eternal youth of a 3500 years old sequoia and be charmed by the 'rafflesia arnoldi' flowers, able to reach up to one meter of diameter.

Talhotblond
66%

Talhotblond(en)

2009-02-01

This is the true story of a love triangle that takes place entirely online. Lies lead to murder in real life, as a teenage vixen (screen name 'talhotblond') lures men into her web. Revealing a shocking true crime story that shows the Internet's power to unleash our most dangerous fantasies.

Triumph of the Will
69%

Triumph of the Will(de)

1935-03-28

A showcase of German chancellor and Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler at the 1934 Nuremberg Rally.