Written by: Adam Elliot
Starring: Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Eric Bana, Magda Szubanski, Dominique Pinon
Rating: [3.5/5]
Animated films, for all they can capture through their medium, tend to lean towards children as their demographic. This transpires for many reasons we do not necessarily need to delve into now, but not often does a film of this medium expressly crafted towards adults reach a large audience, such as Memoir of a Snail. Thankfully it did, as its style and tone allow for the depiction of an emotionally moving movie with the most singularly unique characters.
Following the death of their father, Grace (Sarah Snook) and her twin brother, Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee), experience two different upbringings as the foster system separates them. As she reaches adulthood, Grace experiences levels of loss, love, and betrayal as she reckons with what life has to offer her.
Truly wonderfully strange in its composition, characters, and overall storytelling, Memoir of a Snail is the first Adam Elliot film I’ve experienced, and it’s quite the trip. A stop-motion animated film, which always deserves respect for the willpower and patience needed to bring these stories to life. However, this film brings a distinct tone and style that allow it to stand on its own as Grace’s experience carries resonance in the relatability of her concerns, but the presentation of it makes it all the more impactful.
Grace, as a character, has always colored outside of the line and has rightfully so, as she has needed to withstand what has made her different from others. This initially appears in her cleft lip, her mother dying from childbirth, and having a father who struggled with his own health. The only relationship she could rely upon was her twin brother, which she then loses because of the foster system. Truly a traumatic upbringing for such a child, but she consistently tries to make it work and develops her own quirks, such as feeling a connection with snails and collecting paraphernalia of an animal not many pay mind to. Often when individuals think of snails, it’s from a French cuisine standpoint, but this film utilizes what this animal represents for Grace and makes it clear why she identifies so closely with it.
Despite the dark look, this tale carries so much inspiration through the journey of Grace. As we navigate this story through her eyes, we witness her darkest moments where others do wrong by her, which comes as a natural part of life, but she also develops beautiful relationships with individuals like Pinky (Jacki Weaver). This older woman brings a loveliness and a joy for life that Grace had never stopped to try and experience because of her life circumstances. This lady with the wild hair demonstrates the truth of how life’s worries can firmly be placed in the rearview mirror and one can just continue with life in such a meaningful manner that makes an impressionable difference on the lead character.
The inclusion of Pinky, along with other elements, also helps distinguish this animated film as something very much geared towards adults. We see this through her conduct but also through the fact that Grace’s foster parents were swingers and the mature relationships she has in her adulthood with other men. I’m sure lovers of animated films who seek out all of the works in this medium see this as nothing new, but as someone who usually remains on the surface level of what hits the mainstream, usually targeted towards children, seeing this all play out felt quite refreshing. This also using stop-motion animation allowed its tangibility to make the actions of these characters all the more impactful. It all comes together so well in its wonderfully weird ways.
Operating on its own wavelength and thankful for it, Memoir of a Snail looks for inspiration in this very grey world with muted colors and bad actors all around. Grace lives quite a full life, as this film operates as her recounting her story and all of the individuals she encounters and the impact they have on her life. The film surprises in the turns it takes and how it can move from whimsy to surprisingly dark in the way it depicts what happens to Grace and those around her. It’s hard to imagine ever seeing a film with the themes and visual representation of this one making it quite the unique experience that brought plenty of joy and deserves the recognition it has received.
Films with Josh 
