Film Comment: The Big Picture

We've all realized after the fact that we have missed opportunities for witnessing to people; people who were obviously "ready," under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The one who was not ready was us.

The Big Picture (2000) is a short film apparently available only as an extra on the DVD release of Daybreakers (2010), a vampire film with a twist.

In The Big Picture, a young woman politely but firmly rebuffs the supper invitation offered to her by her nerdy neighbor, who sadly walks back home in the rain. He has brought her a flower and obviously has worked for hours, perhaps days, to build up enough courage to speak to her.

At first to her distress, and then to her growing delight, the woman is astonished when her television begins showing her a progression of images taking place in her living room. She sees images of the nerd becoming her boyfriend and then her husband and then the father of her beautiful children. She sees herself, in the living room, with her teenaged daughter and sees herself happily growing old with her devoted husband. Of course, she decides to go across the street to accept her neighbor's supper invitation. It's then that she learns the truth: one must respond to opportunities when they become available or they may no longer be available.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 1 Peter 3:15