When I first read about this documentary — briefly, in Google’s ‘overview’ — I thought it would be about Terry Masear and hummingbirds. And it was, but it was also so much more.
Accompanying an uplifting— at times classic rock, other times symphonic — soundtrack, director Sally Aitkin takes us through the journey of Terry Masear, a Hollywood-based hummingbird rehabber. Masear’s early years were marked by a home that tested the limits of resilience, shaping her profound connection to the fragile lives she would later dedicate herself to. Her demeanor is no-nonsense, direct, perhaps even stern. Her hardness gives away around the injured or abandoned, softened by the beauty of the little world she found fleeting through the sky and into her palms.
In the serendipitous event that is our incomprehensible “existence”, this documentary serves as an ode to life. To flowers, to struggles, to triumphs, to unconditional and unshakeable kindness, and hummingbirds. To cohabit a rather rare planet with such tiny, magnificent creatures brings a profound feeling of wonder to your heart. The film reminds you, at times harshly, that the world around us is a fragile thing, so stark in contrast to the pervasive force that humanity has become.
We see tiny hummingbird nests like soft open cocoons, not much larger than the small of your palm, made of spiderwebs, hairs, soft twigs, and tiny vines. They are decorated on the outside with paint chips, which Terry says lets her know what colour peoples houses are. She lifts the nest softly, with two, maybe even three, baby hummingbirds inside, smaller than the size of your pinky, and rests it into a cozy crocheted cup. Then, we are introduced to Wasabi, Mikhail and Alexa, Jimmy, Cactus, and more. We watch as female hummingbirds, only a few weeks old, pretend-feed their baby bunk-mates, their maternal instincts guiding them to nurture and love. We see Mikhail and his unrequited love for Alexa, a hummingbird of a different species (it seems he isn’t entirely aware of this fact). And we hear Terry’s story, one of pain, resilience, love, and kindness.
The documentary is uplifting and hopeful; a message we need now more than ever. Through cinematic landscapes, heartwarming clips of baby hummingbirds, and mesmerizing timelapses of flowers blooming and dying, the film captures pain, sorrow, loss, recovery, and triumph.
However, for those not enamoured by a slow pace or birds, the documentary may seem drawn out. I found my mind wandering every now and then. The narrative, though beautiful, feels it could have been an impactful short film rather than its feature-length 94 minute format. At times, the shots are repetitive, though wonderful. I would say, perhaps you would not need a passion for birds, but a passion for understanding every little thing, to truly enjoy the documentary. Through the lens of Terry Masear’s dedication, we are reminded of the beauty that exists in the minutiae of the world and the significance of extending care to all living beings, no matter how small, and that’s worth something.
This is a love story. To hummingbirds, yes. To Terry’s own story, yes. But more than that, to every little thing. So take a shower, wear your cosiest pajamas, and open your mind and heart up to this little world.
‘Every Little Thing’ was released on 21st February 2025.
