Aliya looks at the symbolism behind our feathered friends in cinema…

When Nelly Furtado sang she was like a bird, we all knew she meant it metaphorically.

Film directors are no different.

Lets start with the bigheads and work up.

Eisenstein explored how symbolism can work through the interconnection of images inOctober.

We make a connection between the two pictures: vanity.

The peacock represents divinity, rank and power, while the colour white symbolises death in Chinese culture.

Its no wonder that Lord Shen is a kick-ass bad guy.

Birds make great symbols of extreme, almost godlike, power.

And both Harry and Voldemorts wands contain phoenix feathers.

Hitchcock gives us the strongest picture of the flipside of this power inThe Birds(1963).

What if all birds were to turn against us?

The birds win, and we dont stand a chance.

In 1918, Maurice Tourneur directedThe Blue Bird.Its a fairy story that is charming, surreal, and scary.

Rarely do films get that mixture of innocence, strangeness and threat so perfectly balanced.

The blue bird of happiness is found a number of times, but it cannot be caged.

Happiness must come and go from us freely.

Childrens films love the connection between freedom and birds.

She releases her pet birds from the aviary and watches them fly up to the sun.

Its not subtle.Chicken Run(2000) gives us the best re-enactment ofThe Great Escapewith poultry possible.

All the Harry Potter films are awash with imagery of birds and flying.

The next shot takes place in the snowy courtyard at Hogwarts.

Harry has his owl, Hedwig, on his arm.

And then there isKes.

One of the great films made for young adults, it doesnt sugar-coat life.

The bird is only a temporary escape; flying away from your problems offers no real solution.

Take Ginger Rogers beautiful feathered dress inTop Hat(1935).

Now thats freedom of movement, even if it did continually shed all over Freds suit.

The first time that the psychopath became the star of the film was in HitchcocksPsycho.

The mental unbalance of the killer is more interesting than the personality of the victim.

He talks about why he loves to stuff birds in particular.

Rather like Marion in the shower only a few hours later.

Iron Man 2(2012) sees Mickey Rourke take on the bad guy role as Ivan Vanko.

Unfortunately the cockatoo doesnt give the impression of deep character traits so much as general craziness.

Yes, a bird on the shoulder equals an unhinged piratical personality in movie terms.

Sometimes the bird represents that everyone else is crazy.

The parrot inThe Ladykillers(1955) is the voice of reason amidst the madness.

When it flies off, who can blame it?

The parrot replies with a low, menacing chuckle.

It already knows things arent going to go well.

But they are going to be very dark, and very funny.

Often theres a degree of anthropomorphism; the birds are given personalities.

Sometimes they are even the star of the show, as inPaulie(1998) orRio(2011).

Are there any really endearing comedic birds?

The most intriguing comic oddity might well beBill And Coo(1948).

Its an entertaining movie of everyday life in the town of Chirpendale, which is populated entirely with birds.

Theres an approaching threat a crow known as the Black Menace.

It is a great reminder of how inventive Hollywood can be when it puts its mind to it.

Thats right its a vain, comedic psychopath thats wishing for freedom.

You have to feel sorry for the birds, really.

Well, apart from the ones in HitchcocksThe Birds,who are going to end up ruling the planet.