Review: Hope takes wing in ‘Every Little Thing,’ the documentary that L.A. needs right now
Everyone residing in resilient, undaunted Los Angeles might benefit from a moment of healing, and Sally Aitken’s documentary “Every Little Thing” provides that very solace by showcasing a touch of small-scale restoration filled with kindness. The work involves nursing hummingbirds, some of the city’s beloved year-round residents.
In Los Angeles, ‘rehab’ might refer to a unique, high-end industry in a scenic location. However, for an injured hummingbird or one who’s lost its mother, the circumstances can be critical. For over two decades, wildlife volunteer Terry Masear has been dedicated to caring for L.A.’s smallest residents, making her like a comprehensive healthcare provider wherever she travels with her handmade beds, homemade recovery enclosures, and tender loving care. (Her organization is known as Los Angeles Hummingbird Rescue.)
During the warmest months, Masear’s specialized abilities see peak activity. Aitken’s cameras document the surge of “finders” contacting Masear’s hotline and hastily bringing their birds, creating a bustling scene. We observe the calm, gray-haired healer at work—from makeshift ICUs and rehabilitation centers, to outdoor treatment areas adorned with nectar-rich flowers and a bubbling fountain. This is the final stop before the joyous flight of revitalized birds.
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At the heart of “Every Little Thing” lies a touching hospital drama that focuses on a distinctive bond between healer and patient, beautifully portrayed through Ann Johnson Prum’s swift cinematography and macro lenses. The hummingbirds, captured in these shots, are breathtakingly captivating – ethereal beings with vibrant colors and delicate feathers. Their caregiver provides charming, witty commentary as she attends to them, making each tiny bird with its needle-like beak come alive on screen. You can almost feel their struggles, their hope, their desires for companionship, their rebellious spirit – all reflected in their unique personalities.
Additionally, we explore what compassion signifies to Masear, a PhD graduate who is healing from old and new wounds, some dating back to her childhood. It’s intriguing that these fragile creatures provide a calming purpose for her life. It seems significant that while Masear advocates strongly for humans to respect wildlife rather than control it, there’s an underlying possibility that she might be interfering with the natural process of survival of the fittest by rescuing those she can.
Isn’t intervening in such situations not just passive co-existence, but an active pursuit of harmonious living? This perspective aligns with the compassionate bird doctors from the inspiring 2022 documentary “All That Breathes,” who view us as part of a common “air community.” The heartwarming series “Every Little Thing” isn’t just about preserving a cherished cuteness, but about the idea that when a bird like Masear recovers successfully – although this isn’t guaranteed, sadly – it symbolizes hope and newfound vigor.
For an Angeleno, it’s challenging to articulate the profound feelings that come with witnessing such a scene at this moment: the pulsating flow of energy, the contemplation of transient vulnerability, and the unwavering conviction in restoring lives – all beating at 80 beats per second. When Masear focuses on something as ordinary as a hummingbird’s cautious leap from one branch to another, the suspense becomes both surprisingly moving and thought-provoking. These are minuscule, fearful advances for hummingbirds, yet they inspire immense hope for colossal strides in humanity.
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2025-01-18 00:01