A Birder's Guide to Everything

On the eve of his widower father's second wedding, fifteen-year-old birding fanatic David Portnoy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) thinks that he's made the discovery of a lifetime, the extinct Labrador duck. Now he and the two other stalwart members of the local Young Birders Society, joined by their headstrong photographer classmate Ellen (Katie Chang), take off on an epic road trip in search of the rare bird and elusive answers to teenage questions large and small. With marvelous supporting performances by Ben Kingsley and James LeGros, A Birder's Guide to Everything is an alternately poignant and funny window into the thoughtful world of birding and the inner peace that can be discovered during a walk in the woods. Rob Meyer delivers a sparkling feature film debut with a coming-of-age tale to warm the hearts of anyone who grew up with a nerdy passion. (Matchbox Films)