Memoir of a Snail (2024) - Film Review

      Memoir of a Snail, 2024.

      Written and Directed by Adam Elliot.

      Featuring the voice talents of Sarah Snook, Eric Bana, Jacki Weaver, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Dominique Pinon, Magda Szubanski, Paul Capsis, Tony Armstrong, Mason Litsos, Charlotte Belsey, Davey Thompson, Selena Brennan, Jub Clerc, Luke Elliot, Nick Cave, Bernie Clifford, David Williams, and Craig Ross.

      SYNOPSIS:

      This poignant memoir revolves around a sorrowful woman named Grace Pudel, who hoards snails, romance novels, and guinea pigs.

      From Academy Award-winning animator and writer/director Adam Elliot comes Memoir of a Snail, a richly detailed stop-motion feature set in the 1970s that balances between despair and hope. The film illustrates the traumas faced by its characters, particularly Grace Pudel (voiced by Sarah Snook), emphasizing how individuals often struggle to cope with grief, leading them to retreat even deeper into themselves amid accumulating suffering. Unsavory characters create physical cages, while emotional cages are self-imposed barriers that people lock themselves behind.

      Grace's struggles originate from anxiety and a childhood marred by bullying. As tragedies accumulate, her obsession with snails (whether alive, porcelain, or any snail-like object) and guinea pigs intensifies. Despite the crushing solitude of her life, there is a flicker of hope. The narrative adopts a memoir format, with Grace recounting her story to a longtime companion snail named Sylvia while sitting in the garden after the passing of her only remaining familial figure, a nonbiological grandmother dubbed Pinky (voiced by Jacki Weaver).

      Beginning with her childhood, Grace narrates her life through several montages, introducing various family members including her mother, who died prematurely (but imparted a sentimental love for snails), a father with artistic aspirations who tragically became a paraplegic after being hit by a drunk driver and subsequently fell into alcoholism, and her gentle, animal-loving brother Gilbert (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee), who shines as a beacon of hope in her bleak surroundings. Eventually, their father's death leads to their separation, landing Grace in a laid-back household fond of self-help literature, while Gilbert ends up on a farm run by hypocritical religious zealots.

      While undeniably somber, Adam Elliot intersperses dark humor throughout, whether showcasing Gilbert retaliating against bullies mocking Grace’s “rabbit face,” a bookcase accident resulting in the death of some guinea pigs during a private moment, or the increasingly ridiculous yet exhilarating escapades of Pinky (who truly lives life to the fullest) and her two deceased husbands adorned with hilariously morbid gravestone epitaphs. The film is also diligent in fleshing out its characters with nuanced details, revealing their reading choices.

      Yet, it’s not solely about idiosyncrasies, trauma, and irreverent comedy; there are genuinely touching visuals as well, such as the tender expression of love between Grace and Gilbert, who align their arms to create burn marks that form a smiley face. A significant theme underscores the positive effects of supporting someone when they are at their lowest and feeling ashamed.

      While many of the quirks may not be unfamiliar to those acquainted with Adam Elliot’s earlier works, Memoir of a Snail, a tale of enduring sibling love (as Grace and Gilbert often exchange letters with Gilbert vowing to traverse Australia for a reunion) and the struggle against overwhelming adversity, unfolds as a montage of life that occasionally drags, though this is mere nitpicking.

      Memoir of a Snail presents a powerful emotional exploration of life's fluctuations. It is melancholic, raw, touching, and hopeful, brought to life through evocative voice performances and skillfully executed stop-motion animation.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He also serves as the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at [email protected]