The wait was well worth it: 15 years later, Adam Elliot returns with Memoir of a Snail, a heartfelt adult animation, showcased at the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival.
After 15 years, Adam Elliot’s touching and stunning stop-motion animation feature is well worth the wait. His first stop-motion animation film, Mary and Max, was released in 2009. His latest work, Memoir of a Snail (2024), premiered at earlier this year at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it won the top Cristal prize for best feature. It also played in the Perlak (Pearls) section at the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival, which showcases a selection of the best films screened at international festivals throughout the year. Emilia Pérez, All We Imagine as Light, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Anora or Oh, Canada are among the prestigious selections, to name just a few.
Memoir of a Snail will make you look at the bright side of the life of an underdog and a misfit, spreading warmth as you watch the life of young misfit Grace Pudel, who turns her messy life around to find meaning and not withdraw into a shell like a snail.
Adam Elliot brings in some hard truths about life in this adult animation, telling the story of an underdog often misunderstood by society. Grace Pudel is introduced to the audience as a person who loves snails, is a hoarder, and a loner. The film begins with Grace (voiced by the brilliant Sarah Snook) narrating her life to her first snail, Sylvie, recounting all the things that have happened to her so far.
This narrative gives us insight into her modest life with her twin brother and paraplegic father, the highs and lows of dealing with her father’s alcoholism, and the grief of losing their mother. It shows how she loses grip on life when the twins are separated and stay in touch via writing letters, as the film is set in the 1970s.
The audience finds empathy for Grace as she talks about finding her confidence with the help of Pinky, a quirky old woman she befriends; about finding love and letting go of love; about dealing with personal losses; and in a way, learning about life, but just the hard way. This film touches you with a well-written script that is poignant, heartfelt, and also funny. It is bittersweet yet uplifting, as it brings closure to many of the daily battles that misfits and underdogs go through and also tells us that a bit of bravery goes a long way in breaking out of our shells and facing the world.
It took Oscar-winning director Elliot eight years to make this film. It is a film that one should not miss if you love to watch clay animation and its magic.
We are delighted to be reporting live from the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival, running on September 20-28, 2024 in Spain.
