Melbourne International Film Festival Review - Memoir of a Snail Review

 

“Life only makes sense backwards. But we have to live it forwards.”

Personal, profound and powerful, Memoir of a Snail is a belovedly idiosyncratic stop-motion story that’s delightfully character driven and deeply emotional in its assuredly Australian atmosphere filled with tragedy, comedy and plenty of heart and humour to endear and entertain all audience ages. 

Discussion Points:

Adam Elliott has returned to the big screen after his 2009 masterpiece Mary & Max to deliver another stop-motion masterwork. 

As Elliot share at the MIFF screening, the entire production was economic & efficient, made on a $7 million budget in beautiful beiges and browns from Bunnings. It’s a humble domestic affair that never feels limited by its resources. Memoir of a Snail is so uniquely bogan, kitsch and deeply rooted in Australia without ever feeling inaccessible, overblown or satirical. By taking a deeply character driven story and pairing it with such a distinct temporal and geographical setting, the film feels both natural and authentic, and yet transcendent and unique. With great animation, brilliant writing and earnest voice work, Memoir of a Snail delivers one of the best animated films of 2024 and stands as a testament to the talent of the Australian film industry and the underrated art of stop-motion as a means to tell deeply compelling stories.