Memoir of a Snail (dir. Adam Elliot)

By: Adam Freed

Writer and director Adam Elliot poses a wonderful question within his dramatic “seasons of life” stop motion dynamo Memoir of a Snail.  The Australian artist forces consideration as to why the alluring world of animation seems reserved for young audiences? Are complex adult emotions and thematically rich films above stop motion’s purview?  According to Elliot, and anyone fortunate enough to experience Memoir of a Snail, it would appear that the answer is quite clear.  Focusing on the star-crossed existence of two fraternal twins, Grace and Gilbert Pudel, Elliot’s film explores the depths of nature vs. nurture, self-loathing, depression, and the healing power of kindness. Quite the emotional gamut for a 90 minute film shot painstakingly one frame at a time.

After the death of their father, a kind spirited street performer overcome by his demons, main characters Grace and Gilbert are forced into the harsh realities of the foster care system.  Once in the system, they are placed on opposite ends of Australia, with a massive desert between.  The Pudel children, separated by mere moments at birth, might as well have ended up on different planets.  Grace lands with a family that never invests in her over their self interests, and Gilbert with a devoutly religious and hypocritical family in which he is never treated as a first class citizen.  As their living situations mutually devolve, Elliot’s sad survival story becomes the emotional focus of Memoir of a Snail.

Adam Elliot’s film paints an inviting visual portrait of a young lady that is void of the saccharine trappings that one may expect from animated fare.  There is a conveyed humanity present in Grace’s story as she hides within her obsession over snails.  The film’s most optimistic moments come from a character named Pinky, a friend to Grace and adopted mother of sorts.  The elderly Pinky is the first person to show Grace genuine kindness and compassion.  Although the film touches on many relevant themes, it is through Pinky that the importance of kinship and kindness are fully explored.  Adam Elliot’s Memoir of a Snail is an emotionally provocative film shared in a way that knowingly flaunts convention.  Whoever said that interesting stories need to be conventional?

Target Score: 7.5/10  Memoir of a Snail is a brave stop motion animated film from the mind of Adam Elliot.  The film boldly addresses a phalanx of relevant themes and presents them in a visually unorthodox manner.  Keep an eye on Elliot’s film as it has an outside chance at a best animated feature nomination. 

Memoir of a Snail is included in Movie Archer’s coverage of the 60th annual Chicago International Film Festival.