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Description

This is a film that explores the concepts of ownership and responsibility for one's actions. 3000 homing pigeons are released from a special truck to begin the 300 mile race back to their lofts. Waiting at home is a boy- proud owner of six birds entered in the race. One by one he checks his birds home - all except Oscar. Instead, Oscar lands in a nearby vacant lot and becomes a target for several rock throwing boys. Injured and helpless, Oscar is rescued by one of the boys who decides to nurse the pigeon back to health. The boy tends Oscar's wound, visits the library to find out how to care for him, builds a cage, and learns to enjoy his new pet. Oscar's original owner suspects Oscar is nearby and puts signs up in the neighborhood describing his pigeon. Oscar's rescuer recognizes that his new pet is the lost pigeon, and is challenged by a young neighbor girl:
"He's not really your pigeon."
"Yes he is," the boy replies, "I took care of him!"
"You wouldn't have had to take care of him if you hadn't hurt him in the first place," the girl answers.
Whose pigeon is it?
[Source: Pasedena Filmforum Program Notes, 1978]