Every Little Thing is a beautifully crafted documentary that unfolds with warmth, tenderness, and deeply moving storytelling. It explores the remarkable connection between Terry Masear and the injured hummingbirds she has rehabilitated for 18 years from her Beverly Hills home.
Adapted from her book Fastest Things on Wings and directed by Australian filmmaker Sally Aitken, the film is a poignant reminder of resilience, hope, and the beauty of nature.
The cinematography is breathtaking, capturing the delicate movements of these tiny creatures in stunning slow motion. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world. They are also the only ones capable of flying in all directions – up, down, sideways, even backwards. They are so fragile that when they die, their bodies break down within days.
The connection between Masear’s own life and those of her little patients entwined with one another, so much so, Masear suggests if she’s to speak on her own personal trauma, perhaps she too will simply disintegrate as we watch on,
making it clear this story is about the hummingbirds, not her own. Yet her message is clear, we heal in nature, much the way the hummingbirds do.
In spite of their tiny size, each character in this film has a big personality. They fill the screen with their stories, pulling viewers into their journey of survival.
There’s Raisin, who suffered head and internal injuries and Jimmy, the feisty little fighter who fell from his nest when his mother never came home. There’s even a love story of sorts between tough boy Mikhail and the elusive Alexa. Then there’s Cactus, given just a 10-20% chance of survival after a collision left her impaled on a cactus, her tiny body covered in spikes and her wing badly damaged. These stories are filled with heart, hope and triumph. It is impossible not to become emotionally invested.
At its core, Every Little Thing is a story of kindness, compassion, and the deep bond between humans and nature. In a world that often feels heavy, this film is a much- needed reminder that goodness still exists. It will make you laugh, bring you to tears, and ultimately leave you with a renewed sense of warmth and hope.
Every Little Thing is currently playing at Luna Palace Cinemas.