Watch Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets

Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets is a coming-of-age drama film from 2021 that stars Lucas Jade Zumann (20th Century Women), Michael H. Cole (Billions), and Roger Dale Floyd (Doctor Sleep). Directed by Yaniv Razoff, the film is based on the novel of the same name by Evan Roskos and follows the story of James Whitman, a high school student struggling with depression and anxiety, as he tries to navigate his way through life with the help of Dr. Bird, his imaginary pigeon therapist.

The film is set in a small, suburban town in New Jersey and opens with James, played by Zumann, describing his life through voiceover narration. He talks about his family, his school, and his mental health issues. James is an aspiring poet who feels like he doesn't fit in anywhere. He has a strained relationship with his parents, especially his mother, who is constantly pressuring him to be normal and get a girlfriend. James also has a crush on a girl from school, Sophie (Lisa Edelstein), but he's too scared to talk to her.

One day, James discovers a book called "Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets" and starts talking to the imaginary pigeon therapist in his head. Dr. Bird, played by Tom Wilkinson, gives James advice on how to deal with his problems and encourages him to keep writing poetry. James becomes obsessed with the book and starts carrying it around with him everywhere he goes.

As the film progresses, we see James' life start to unravel. He skips school, gets into fights with his classmates, and spends most of his time alone in his room writing poetry. His parents are worried about him, but they don't know how to help. James starts to push the people in his life away, including his best friend, Ron (Jason Isaacs), who is also his poetry mentor.

One of the most powerful moments in the film comes when James reads one of his poems out loud in class. The poem is about his struggles with depression and anxiety, and how he feels like nobody understands him. The reaction from his classmates and teacher is mixed, but it's clear that James' words have struck a chord with some of them.

Throughout the film, we see James continue to struggle with his mental health. He has panic attacks and nightmares, and he starts to see visions of Dr. Bird everywhere he goes. Despite all of this, James refuses to give up on his poetry. He continues to write, and he even performs at an open mic night at a local coffee shop.

Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets is a powerful film that tackles some heavy subject matter. It's a coming-of-age story that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt like they don't fit in. The film is beautifully shot, with a dreamlike quality that perfectly captures James' internal struggles.

The performances in the film are all excellent, with Lucas Jade Zumann giving a particularly moving performance as James. He perfectly captures the angst and uncertainty of adolescence, and his portrayal of James' mental health issues is nuanced and realistic.

Overall, Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets is a must-see film for anyone who has ever struggled with mental health or felt like they don't belong. It's a touching and honest portrayal of what it means to be a teenager in today's world, and it's a testament to the power of art and creativity in helping us through our darkest times.

Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets is a 2021 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1.