Directed by Sally Aitken
The trick with documentaries is either a dynamite subject, or being in the right place at the right time (with the tools, talent and ability to capture the moment artistically and emotionally). Every Little Thing follows a unique subject named Terry Masear, who is known for her hummingbird sanctuary in Hollywood, California, where she cares for and takes in injured hummingbirds. After meticulous care and rehabilitation she is able to release the birds back into nature in Beverly Hills. Throughout the film, director Sally Aitken turns a keen eye on Terry and her work, and how it relates not just to Terry’s own rehabilitation, but the realities of life for everyone.
Terry is an endlessly fascinating subject, providing both moments of laughter and real human insight. We get to see the joy and expertise that she brings to her craft, taking these birds in and nursing them back to health. But we also get to see the demons that come with the reality of nature and man. Sometimes the bird’s injuries are clearly caused by humans, whether they want to admit their wrongdoing or not. These heartbreaking moments can result in irreversible damage. Aitken and Terry are able to turn the camera inward and relate these instances of cruel nature and cruel humans to stories in their own lives. Terry isn’t perfect, humans are not perfect, but she is living proof of the wonders and potential of rehabilitation.
Aitken’s camera also helps lift the documentary. Like so many nature documentaries before it, the wonderful images of these marvelous creatures are truly breathtaking. Hummingbirds are a completely unique creature of nature. Not like normal birds, their fluttering wings and ability to stay completely still while mid-air are a wonder to behold, especially in slow motion photography. The images captured her are incredible to watch, even when the birds themselves are not at 100 percent, you can tell their true beauty and ability.
If I had one major critique of the film, it would be that while it brings together the parallels of Terry’s former struggles and the struggles of nature and specifically how these hummingbirds have come to be in her care, the film is not always as engaging and engrossing as I might hope it could be. There are times when the film drags, which is both a blessing and a curse. The languid nature of the storytelling goes hand-in-hand with Terry’s nature, her predisposition for easy-going California lifestyle, even in the face of urgent care for the birds. But it still makes for moments of wondering when the story will get on with itself, or when the already brief runtime will expire. But I can easily forgive it these minor transgressions for the beauty and the truths it is able to extract from such a simple and elegant tale of compassion and human caring.
Corndog Chats 