Finding Happy * Rescuing An Animal Doesn’t Only Change The Animal’s Life, It Makes A Difference In The Life Of The Rescuer As Well
A heartbroken woman saves an injured baby sparrow and forges a once-in-a-lifetime bond that inspires an uplifting journey around the world to explore unique human-animal relationships and find the heart of true connection.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Isabella V. comments, “Finding Happy is a gloriously produced documentary that changed the way I view having unconventional animals as pets. Every story is beautiful and it held my interest from start to finish.” Kaylee H. adds, “The film Finding Happy is the cutest and most wholehearted documentary I have ever seen! This emotional story centers on adorable animals with their human best friends.” Avani M. adds, “The film shows us that rescuing an animal doesn’t only change the animal’s life; it makes a difference in the life of the rescuer as well.” Miral G. wraps it up with, “The film’s message is about how love and kindness can be transformational, for both humans and animals. It shows how caring for other living beings has the power of healing.” See their full reviews below.
Finding Happy
Isabella V., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15
Finding Happy is a gloriously produced documentary that truly changed the way I view having unconventional animals as pets. Every story is beautiful and it held my interest from start to finish. From the cinematography, pacing, and the people interviewed, every part shines in its own way.
The storyline follows Maria Bertrand as she tells the story of finding an injured baby sparrow, Happy, during Covid. She documents the bond she created with it during a time when she had no one else, and how she learned to trust it and for it to trust her. Along the way she shares the stories of others with similar experiences, and how their animals, while unconventional, are their best friends.
The interview segments throughout the film are so engaging and help refine the stories being told. For example, whenever Maria is talking about her and Happy, her narration enhances whatever emotion is being conveyed. The other stories she chose to share are also breathtaking – each inspiring in its own way. Everyone shares such beautiful and uplifting experiences. My personal favorite is Zach Skow and his dogs – while dogs may seem like a conventional pet, because of their struggles, they had to overcome and adapt to a new way of living. The visuals in this film are also unbelievable. For example, when Maria talks about how she first found Happy, the visual style switches to rotoscoping which animates the scene in an incredible way. In another scene, when they are talking about animal images drawn on walls, the animals are sketched out slowly giving the illusion that they’re being drawn live.
I particularly enjoyed the pacing. Each individual interview is its own segment, so nothing ever lingers too long. Each scene connects well with the next so the story has good continuity.
The film’s message is that, no matter the animal, we, as humans, have the ability to create a deep connection with every single one. Be forewarned that death is talked about and injured animals are shown.
I give Finding Happy 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases on VOD and streaming on September 1, 2026.
Finding Happy
By Miral, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
I love the documentary film Finding Happy because of its message about hope, mental health, and the healing power of nature. The film moved me deeply and made me cry of happiness at the end!
The storyline follows Maria Bertrand, a woman from Montreal, Canada, who moves to Los Angeles and adopts a dog that she names Moon. One day, while she is running, she finds an injured baby sparrow that is only one day old. She brings it home and takes care of him, and names him Happy, for the happiness he brings into her life. Shortly after, Moon passes away and Maria creates an even stronger bond with Happy. This life-changing experience makes her look for other people around the world that, just like her, have one-of-a-kind connections with their pets. This journey is spiritual, uplifting, and very moving.
My favorite aspect of Finding Happy is how the story is presented in an original and interesting way. For instance, the movie presents different people and they share their own stories of how they came across their animals. Maria Bertrand is the director, writer, and also the main focus of the documentary. She shares her story in a deeply personal way. Another person that resonated with me is Sangduen “Lek” Chailert. She is the founder of the Elephant Nature Park sanctuary in Thailand and is known for rescuing elephants and giving them a second chance with love and freedom. Happy the sparrow is often hilarious and makes me want to laugh all the time because of how funny he is and how silly he plays with Maria.
The film’s message is about how love and kindness can be transformational, for both humans and animals. It shows how caring for other living beings has the power of healing. Animals are important for people and people are crucial for animals. It is a two-way relationship that benefits people and their pets. It serves as a general reminder that healing often begins when we shift our focus away from our own suffering to care for someone else, and this in turn, can give purpose to our lives.
I give Finding Happy 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 through 18, plus adults. It releases on VOD, AVOD and streaming September 1, 2026.
Finding Happy
By Avani M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14
Finding Happy is a documentary that shares inspiring stories of people who have rescued and cared for animals. I really enjoy how the film brings these stories to life through emotional moments, multiple points of views and a powerful message about the connection between people and animals.
The storyline mainly follows Happy, a sparrow who was injured and found on the roadside. His story is told along with stories of other rescued animals, including Honk, a goose who was abandoned in a pond, and Jenny, a cow who was considered not “useful,” and a woman who has rescued more than 100 elephants. Each story is different, but they all show the importance of giving animals a safe place to live and caring for them. It shows how animals can bring happiness, comfort and support to people while also reminding people why animals deserve to be protected.
The film shows us that rescuing an animal doesn’t only change the animal’s life; it makes a difference in the life of the rescuer as well. One of the strongest parts of Finding Happy is the different points of view it explores. Instead of only focusing on the animals, the documentary really examines the people who have rescued and cared for them. Each person portrays themselves and we hear their passion and emotion as they talk about their pets. The stories show how much animals can mean to people, especially during difficult times. Happy’s story is especially emotional because the relationship between him and his rescuer, Maria, shows how helping an animal can help bring happiness and purpose to someone’s life.
This film explores themes of kindness, compassion, connection and protection of animals. Its biggest message is that animals do a lot for people, and people can give back by helping animals who are hurt, abandoned or in danger. We are reminded that even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.
I give Finding Happy 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases to VOD and streaming on September 1, 2026.
Finding Happy
Kaylee H., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
The film Finding Happy is the cutest and most wholehearted documentary I have ever seen! This emotional story centers on adorable animals with their human best friends. It shows how much light and positivity animals can bring into our everyday lives through forming close bonds, while also demonstrating that animals can help with healing from painful emotions.
Maria Bertrand is an animal and nature lover who experiences many difficult challenges. As she is out jogging, she finds an injured baby bird, including a broken beak, which she finds will not allow him to return to the wild. Maria opts to keep the baby bird, names him Happy, and they quickly create a unique bond that helps her to find herself, look inside herself, and find joy. Maria decides to travel the world visiting other people who have animals as their best friends, listening to their stories about how their animal companions helped them get out of a dark place in their lives.
Maria Bertrand is the writer, director, and the star of this program. She is great at exploring everyone’s background stories, including those of their animal best friends, while displaying a common thread throughout all of the narratives. I enjoyed how she doesn’t just focus on dogs and cats as people’s pets, but she explores all animals. She meets people whose “best friends” are a cow, a goose, and a chicken. Maria even travels to Thailand to meet a lady who is friends with many elephants. This documentary made me smile, laugh, and understand various bonds that people have with their animal friends. None of their bonds form in the same way, which enhances the uniqueness between the pairs and the uniqueness of this film. My favorite part is where fun songs are added to the videos of Happy and other animals. These moments highlight how charming and entertaining these animal partners are.
The film’s message is expressed by Maria at the beginning – all animals, no matter how big or tiny, are unique, equal, and have a story to tell. They all have the ability to connect with us, communicate with us, heal us, and love us. If we can pause and start listening, they can light a pathway to a kinder, better, and happier world. Be forewarned that the film does mention suicide and curses once, but it is censored out.
I give Finding Happy 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It is available on VOD, AVOD, and streaming on September 1, 2026.
