User reviews

"Strictly For The Birds" tells the story of Kate Birdsall, a transgender woman in her late 60s, finding love in an unexpected place when she moves to a new city and meets her neighbor Andrea.

It's dangerous waters to have an autobiographical story told in a traditional film format starring the actual people involved. I thought that Kate Birdsall and Andrea Drury were very lovely together on screen, but it could not be gotten around that they are not trained actors. So much of the dialogue delivery together felt like watching a community theater production. Not bad, but certainly lacking polish.

It also becomes a bit difficult in this format, as there are parts that come across as somewhat self-congratulatory. This is the inherent danger with being so close to the project and controlling all sides of the narrative in every 2-person interaction. It's like watching a person's inner thoughts as they replay scenarios in their mind... shower arguments, etc.

I would have much preferred to see this film presented as a documentary instead. Drop the script, let Kate and Andrea just be themselves as they tell this story. There was clearly chemistry and they clearly love each other, but the confining nature of a traditional scripted narrative prevented that from coming through. The only time I really saw something beautiful was those very-clear character breaks that ran off script but was kept in the movie (rightly so).

The problem with a documentary is to tell the story of the past, you often need a lot of source material. Interviews, photos, archive video, etc... and that can be difficult. If that was the case I think the best thing this movie could have done is fit the format of a docu-drama: have Kate and Andrea as themselves, being interviewed together, telling the story together, and when it comes time to show past events, THEN get actors involved to re-enact things. Especially since the flashback sequences were noticeably better performed and as a result, rang more "true".

Without trained performances, the characters were there and were charming, but they failed to really elevate the film. There was clearly conflict, mostly in "human vs self" in both Kate and Andrea, but it failed to come through in a way that felt compelling or had real stakes on the line.

I'm glad I watched this and I hope for nothing but love and prosperity in the future for this lovely couple, but judging it as a film I'm afraid it just didn't work and I'd have difficulty recommending it.

The story...telling how torturous it must be in the world today, to try to be yourself, if that's not what people want to see... was an important one, and I'm glad someone got to tell it. The women may not have been professional actors, but they got their message across. I hope it inspires others to be who they really are, and not to be what's expected of them. The kids were charming and played their parts really well.

The plot of the movie "Strictly for the birds" is good but the dialogue and the acting leave a lot to be desired. The dialogues sound childish and they don't reflect a conversation among mature adults.

As for the actors' performances, in some sequences, they seem motionless, frozen, and emotionless. This is all the result of poor instructions by director Jon Garcia, for example, sometimes we feel that Kate Birdsall is absent and somehow lost in the scenes.

This family drama sometimes seems like a documentary feature as we hear Kate Birdsall's descriptive commentaries about his/her past throughout the movie.

This is the beauty our world needs. More humanity, more vulnerability, more self-actualization. Thank you for making this film. I hope this is part of what helps many to understand themselves better.

Well acted! An inspiring story! It's a movie that may seem unique but is really universal.... We all want to be loved for who we are. I found the movie very enjoyable! Highly recommend!

We all deserve love. I can't not like this film. It had funny moments, sad moments and just most importantly a real love story that was touching. This is my first lgbtq movie i've seen and it let me warm and fuzzy right to the end. Seriously well done.

In a world filled with hate this is one film that rescues your soul. Kates character isn't common either, i've met plenty of people like Kate in real life that went through situations like this so i'm glad a film was actually made around it. Worth the rent.

This was such a heartfelt movie. I'm more of an action, crime movie fan but I seen this trending and I gave it a shot. Great acting, deep storyline and a beautiful ending. A must watch.

It started of a little slow but things got interesting when the love connection set in. Crafty plot with a nice build up. I don't see how anybody could not like this movie. 8 stars.

Such a sweet plot. The film is about Kate Birdsall, a transgender woman in her 60s who moves to New York and falls in love with her neighbour Andrea. The film has everything you'd want in a drama, romance film. Well done to Jon Garcia for making this film. I highly recommend.