"I think it's going to be really cathartic for New Yorkers," said Penny Lane, director of the new documentary "Wild Inside."
The film follows the fascinating journey around Manhattan of Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl and highlights all who fell in love with him.
"I knew the film was going to end up being a chorus or mosaic because he touched so many different kinds of New Yorkers," said Penny.
It was February of 2023 when the 13-year-old owl literally landed on Fifth Avenue.
Vandals had cut netting around his enclosure in the Central Park Zoo.
"I lost so many nights of sleep over this owl," said Penny. "Every time he disappeared for a few days, I was like, 'Is he dead? Where is he?'"
The film opens at the IFC Center on Friday and in more than 60 theaters nationwide next week.
Penny hopes her work continues to spark critical conversations, "getting people thinking about urban ecology and our responsibility to our non-human neighbors who also living here alongside us trying to survive."
Penny thought it was also critical to touch on the philosophical debate that erupted after Flaco took flight.
There were, and still are, very strong views on the subject.
"Is it a tragedy of human errors?" Penny asked. "You know, not taking of an animal that was our responsibility to take care of?"
The odds were stacked against Flaco, who died on February 23, 2024 after colliding with a building.
High levels of rat poison and a virus linked to pigeons were found in his system.
"He symbolized resilience, hope, defying expectations and just being wild," said Penny.
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