Brave Parrot: Paulie (Film)

Released in 1998, "Brave Parrot: Paulie" (original title: "Paulie") is an American adventure and family drama film directed by John Roberts. The film follows the journey of a parrot with the ability to speak and understand human language, as he travels across America to find the little girl who raised him.

The film begins with Misha Vilyenkov, a Russian immigrant working as a janitor at a research institute, discovering Paulie, a parrot abandoned in the building’s basement and seemingly having lost his ability to speak. When Misha attempts to communicate with the parrot, Paulie begins to speak and recounts his life story.

The main narrative of the film unfolds through flashbacks triggered by Paulie’s account. Paulie was raised by Marie, a young girl with a stutter. He helps her overcome her speech difficulties, and a strong bond forms between them. However, her family believes Paulie has caused Marie to develop an imaginary friend and removes the parrot from the home. From this point onward, Paulie embarks on a long and arduous journey to find Marie. Along the way, he encounters various characters including a pawnshop owner, a kind-hearted widow traveling in a caravan named Ivy, and a musician named Ignacio who performs in bars, experiencing a series of adventures. He is eventually captured and taken to a research institute. After telling his story to Misha, Misha helps him reunite with Marie, now an adult woman.

The central themes of the film are loyalty, friendship, and the search for belonging. Told from the perspective of an animal, the story explores universal emotions such as loss, loneliness, and the refusal to give up hope. The importance of communication and being understood is emphasized particularly through Paulie’s role in helping Marie overcome her stutter.

The film was produced by DreamWorks Pictures. The character of Paulie was brought to life using a combination of real Blue-Crowned Conure parrots, animatronic puppets, and computer-generated imagery (CGI). The character’s voice was performed by actor and comedian Jay Mohr. The film was marketed as a family-oriented production.

• Jay Mohr – Voice of Paulie
• Hallie Eisenberg – Young Marie Alweather
• Gena Rowlands – Ivy: The widow who helps Paulie during his journey
• Tony Shalhoub – Misha Vilyenkov: The janitor who discovers Paulie at the institute and listens to his story
• Cheech Marin – Ignacio: The musician who becomes Paulie’s friend
• Trini Alvarado – Adult Marie Alweather
• Buddy Hackett – Artie: The pawnshop owner

The film received various award nominations in the family film category and for its performances.

• BAFTA Awards (1999)
• • Won – BAFTA Children’s Award: Best Children’s Film
• Giffoni Film Festival (1998)
• • Won – Bronze Gryphon Award
• ALMA Awards (1999)
• • Nomination – Best Male Actor (Cheech Marin)
  • Nomination – Best Female Actor (Trini Alvarado)
• Young Artist Awards (1999)
• • Nomination – Best Family Film – Comedy
  • Nomination – Best Performance (Young Female Actress Age 10 and Under) (Hallie Eisenberg)
• YoungStar Awards (1998)
• • Nomination – Best Performance in a Comedy Film (Young Female Actress) (Hallie Eisenberg)
• International Film Music Critics Association Award (IFMCA) (1998)
• • Nomination – Best Original Score for a Comedy Film (John Debney)