An avian equivalent of the Blue Angels, pigeons can skillfully somersault in flight. Pigeon Kings documents a subculture of men devoted to the phenomenon as a competitive sport. High over Los Angeles, a cluster of pigeons acrobatically somersault through the crisp morning air like synchronized swimmers in the sky as they are breathlessly observed from below by a group of dedicated bird enthusiasts, each one carefully evaluating the flock on form, synchronicity, and flight duration. Welcome to South Central's curious subculture of competitive pigeon flying, in which a tight-knit community of Black and Latino breeders and trainers gather to prove that their flocks of Roller Pigeons have the skills necessary to compete for the World Cup. Filmmaker Milena Pastreich (a San Francisco native) spent eight years among these dedicated avian caretakers to craft this uplifting and uniquely human story.
Co-presented by KQED