The Bigger Picture

"The Bigger Picture" is a very depressing short from Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees . However, it's not depressing just for the sake of depression but has something to say about life, death and responsibilities towards elderly parents. In particular, one son is seen as successful though he seems to pay his dying mother much attention. The under-employed brother is seen as a bit of a failure, though he selflessly cares for her for many years. Interestingly, the animation is done with paint--a very labor-intensive process. It's good, though this sort of work doesn't come close to the greatest of the animators using paint, Aleksandr Petrov. Sadly, since Petrov's last nominated film, My Love, he's been unable to secure funding for more work. Had you not known of Petrov's work, "The Bigger Picture" would seem better. I did appreciate the film--especially the story.

It seems be a competion between stopmotion animation and the story. Both impressive for each detail, for ingeniosity and message and wise manner to present a event in the right manner. A great film because it seems be a confession. About roots and life. Poetic and almost fascinating. And that is enough for see it. Again.

Putting the animation aside using brush strokes and paint, this is a common tale. Two brothers care for their sickly mother. One has been at her side for a long time while the other comes and goes One is upwardly mobile while the other is stuck in his life and unhappy. But there is no easy solution to this. It is life and we are humans with our joys and our failings. This does this theme nicely without fanfare or retribution.

'THE BIGGER PICTURE': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

An 8 minute British animated short; which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (at the upcoming 87th Academy Awards). It was directed by Daisy Jacobs and written by Jacobs and Jennifer Majka. The film also features the voice talents of Anne Cunningham, Christopher Nightingale and Alisdair Simpson. It tells the story of two brothers (Simpson and Nightingale) who desperately want to put their elderly mother (Cunningham) in a nursing home; but she refuses to go. It's darkly comedic and the imagery is a little haunting. The film also deals with the powerful emotions, and pain, of taking care of an elderly relative; but some of it is lost in translation. It's definitely a little too dark and somewhat frightening for small children. I didn't really care for the bizarre animation style either, but it was actually done life size (I learned later); that's pretty cool. Still it's one of the weaker 2015 Oscar nominated animated shorts (in my opinion).

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Two sons and an aging mother. One son is essentially her full-time carer, the other does little but is more successful in his life and career. This short film looks into these lives, which are created in a mix of paint on walls, and real objects, delivered in stop motion.

The most immediately impressive thing about his film is the craft of course. It is loaded with awards and praise, and many have said it already, but the stop-motion approach is really impressive as it uses full-sized characters painted onto walls, has real objects, and lots of creativity in the delivery. Simple touches are great, but of course the more complex movements are most impressive (for example, where depth and perspective exist on the flat surface). If this was the only craft involved then it would still be worth a look, but it is not – and the characters are just as well painted in who they are as in terms of their creation. The dynamic between the brothers, as well as individual feeling and action are all convincing created and delivered. Technically the animation allows these small touches to expressions, but the writing and voice work is what helps it most. I was caught off guard by the degree of honesty and realism in the characters and the narrative.

These qualities combined tell you why the film has been so successful, and certainly it is a memorable watch with a lot of crafting in all the places where it matters.