'The Bigger Picture'

Daisy Jacob’s BAFTA-winning animation ‘The Bigger Picture’ explores the story of 2 men caring for their elderly mother. They seem to compete against each other for her love and approval, which leads to frustration for the younger brother. The animation focuses on the mundane aspects of his life that become overwhelming- for example the tea that overflows and floods the room. Jacobs also explores escapism in response to overpowering emotions, as the younger brother imagines vacuuming the whole scene away. As the mother gets progressively ill, she tries to cling on to her dignity but has to accept help from her sons. Their competitiveness turns into sensitivity and they come together over their mother’s death. In the end, they accept the inevitability of their own deaths and find the humility in it. Ultimately, the world continues after a death, which shows the resilience of humanity. For me, the key theme is the fragility of humanity, as the animation shows how quickly life can become overwhelming and situations can change.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54093465

This article about a possible second Coronavirus lockdown reminded me of how mundane the previous one felt. Life seemed repetitive and tedious and the changes were overwhelming for a lot of people. This is much like the life of the younger brother in the animation, and I also related to his frustration. Like ‘The Bigger Picture’, there was also a tragic side to the lockdown and the death toll of over 40,000 is a brutal reminder of the fragility of humanity.