Frederic Lilien Shares THE LEGEND OF PALE MALE

When Frederic Lilen ran away from home to avoid the family law business, becoming the cinematic chronicler of Pale Male,

New York City’s most famous red-tailed hawk, wasn’t even on his radar. In fact, he’d never even heard of the bird and his loyal following until after a serendipitous lunch meeting. He was taking a break in Central Park from the job he hated. On a branch over Lilien’s head, Pale Male was downing a pigeon. In short order, Lilien was hooked on both the raptor and on the community that watched him. The resulting film, his first, PALE MALE, was a great success, but, as he explained during our talk on December 8, 2010, it was hardly the end of Pale Male’s story.  From a public outcry that overruled a co-op board’s ruling, to the personal relationships that evolved, both human and avian, Lilien’s follow-up documentary continues the story of a remarkable bird, and the hold he has on the public imagination.