A COX AMONG THE PIGEONS
THE FORMER LOGAN ROY CHANGES PACE WITH BIRD-RACING DRAMA LITTLE WING
NOT CONTENT WITH having embodied one of the greatest screen characters in Succession, Brian Cox is still seeking new challenges. “I’m at the age where I can’t remember why I came into a room,” the 77-year-old chuckles. “So, you want to do things that keep testing you.” Cox’s latest test is starring alongside racing pigeons in comingof-age drama Little Wing. Here, he explains how to work with birds — without getting your feathers ruffled.
EXPECT BOISTEROUSNESS
Cox plays Jaan, a Portland pigeonfancier whose prize specimen is stolen — then lost — by 13-year-old Kaitlyn (Brooklynn Prince). The pair become unlikely friends when they unite to retrieve the bird. “I had to interact a fair bit with the pigeons,” Cox tells us. “They could be quite boisterous, but once they were in their cages, they were actually rather well-behaved. And I didn’t get shat on once,” he adds, cheerily.
RESPECT THE HANDLERS
In addition to the story, Cox was impressed by the commitment of the real-life pigeon-fanciers on set. “We had great people handling the birds,” he says. “You had huge respect for them because they were so knowledgeable and dedicated to this culture [of pigeonflying]. I just did whatever they told me.” Witnessing the handlers’ profound affection for their feathered friends fed into Cox’s creation of Jaan: “He’s irascible, but only because he’s lost his favourite bird. And he’s right — there’s no defence for that. You don’t go around stealing world-class pigeons!”
DO YOUR RESEARCH
As well as the 2006 New Yorker article Little Wing is based on, Cox looked back at various avian appearances on film. “[Marlon] Brando keeps pigeons in On The Waterfront,” he notes. “And there’s the Nazi playwright and his birds in The Producers.” As to whether Cox will be shelling out for his own coop anytime soon, probably not. “I’m not about to start collecting racing pigeons,” he laughs. “I haven’t got time. But I wanted an adventure — and that’s what this film was.” The quest for new challenges is off to a flying start.