Memoir of a Snail Review: A Poignant Stop-Motion Journey Through Life’s Hardships and Joys

Key Takeaways:

1. Memoir of a Snail tackles complex themes like mental illness, grief, and trauma with a blend of dark humour and emotional depth, making it an animated film for mature audiences.
2. The film’s stop-motion animation and voice performances, especially by Sarah Snook, elevate its storytelling, creating an immersive, visually and emotionally captivating experience.
3. The narrative revolves around themes of resilience, self-acceptance, and the human capacity to find hope, even in life’s darkest moments.

A New Stop-Motion Masterpiece

Memoir of a Snail marks the long-awaited return of director Adam Elliot, following the acclaimed Mary and Max. While the film’s title may sound whimsical, the story it tells is far from light hearted. This beautifully animated stop-motion film delves into heavy topics like grief, trauma, and self-discovery, offering a complex emotional experience. With stunning animation, heartfelt performances, and a thoughtful script, Memoir of a Snail stands as one of the most impactful films of 2024.

Though stop-motion animation is often associated with children’s films, Memoir of a Snail challenges this stereotype. Its mature themes, paired with Elliot’s unique visual style, craft a narrative that is both tender and heartbreaking, offering a reflection on life’s trials and the strength required to endure them.

What Is Memoir of a Snail About?

At its core, Memoir of a Snail is the story of Grace Pudel (voiced by Sarah Snook), who recounts her life to her beloved pet snail, Sylvia, after the passing of her best friend, Pinky (Jacki Weaver). Grace’s life has been filled with hardship from the beginning her mother died during childbirth, leaving Grace and her twin brother, Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee), to be raised by their paraplegic and alcoholic father, Percy (Dominique Pinon). Despite the challenges, the Pudels share moments of joy and connection, particularly through Grace’s obsession with snails and Gilbert’s dreams of becoming a street performer.

The film explores Grace and Gilbert’s childhood, marked by bullying, loss, and separation after their father’s death. Grace is sent to live with a pair of childless swingers, while Gilbert is placed with religious fundamentalists. The siblings communicate through letters, sharing their hopes of reuniting. Through these letters, the film presents a touching portrayal of sibling love and the yearning to escape the “shells” that life has imposed on them.

Themes of Memoir of a Snail: Darkness, Humour, and Hope

One of the most striking aspects of Memoir of a Snail is its ability to balance dark themes with moments of levity. The film doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like mental illness, body dysmorphia, and death, yet it manages to find humour in unexpected places. From Pinky’s colourful past to the quirky books read by the Pudel family, these moments of lightness prevent the film from becoming overwhelmingly bleak.

At its heart, Memoir of a Snail is about finding hope, even in life’s darkest moments. The film emphasizes resilience and the power of human connection, particularly through Grace’s bond with her brother and her friendship with Pinky. Even when faced with unbearable hardship, the characters find small moments of joy and tenderness, offering a universal message of hope and endurance.

The Visual Brilliance of Memoir of a Snail

One of the film’s most remarkable features is its stop-motion animation. While the character designs may seem simplistic or even childlike, this aesthetic choice only serves to heighten the emotional impact of the story. The muted colour palette, dominated by shades of grey and beige, mirrors the somber tone of the film, while also lending a sense of intimacy to the world Elliot has created.

The animation feels authentic and tactile, avoiding the glossy, overly-polished look of many modern animated films. Instead, Memoir of a Snail embraces a more handmade quality, which adds to the film’s emotional depth. Each frame is meticulously crafted, creating a world that feels both whimsical and deeply grounded in reality.

Sarah Snook’s Standout Voice Performance

At the center of the film is Sarah Snook’s incredible performance as Grace. Her voice work brings a deep sense of vulnerability and strength to the character, making Grace’s emotional journey all the more compelling. Snook captures the nuances of Grace’s personality, from her moments of quiet reflection to her more intense emotional outbursts, ensuring that the audience is fully invested in her story.

It’s not just the technical aspects of Snook’s performance that stand out it’s the emotional authenticity she brings to the role. Every line is delivered with care, making Grace’s pain, hope, and determination feel real. Snook’s portrayal is so immersive that it’s easy to forget that she’s simply voicing an animated character. Instead, Grace feels like a fully-realized person, one whose struggles and triumphs resonate deeply with the viewer.

Emotional Intelligence in Storytelling

Adam Elliot’s script for Memoir of a Snail is filled with wisdom and emotional intelligence. The film’s exploration of trauma, insecurity, and self-acceptance is handled with sensitivity and care, allowing for a deeply moving experience. Elliot’s writing is poetic without being overly sentimental, and the dialogue is filled with poignant quotes that linger long after the credits roll.

One particularly memorable line “Childhood is a lot like being drunk because everyone remembers what you did except you” perfectly encapsulates the film’s blend of humour and melancholy. It’s moments like these that make Memoir of a Snail such a unique and powerful film, one that isn’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects while still finding beauty and meaning in life’s challenges.

The Role of Music in Memoir of a Snail

Elena Kats-Chernin’s score plays a crucial role in setting the tone of the film. The music, particularly the use of piano, perfectly complements the intimate and tender nature of the story. The score feels like an extension of the characters themselves, adding an additional layer of emotion to the film. In many ways, the music becomes a character in its own right, guiding the audience through the highs and lows of Grace’s journey.

The soundtrack is both haunting and beautiful, mirroring the film’s exploration of grief, hope, and resilience. It’s one of the best scores of the year, and it elevates the film to new emotional heights.

Memoir of a Snail: A Standout in Animation

In a year filled with standout animated films, Memoir of a Snail holds its own as one of the best. It’s a film that challenges the conventions of what animated movies can be, offering a deeply human story that resonates on multiple levels. From its stunning animation to its powerful voice performances, Memoir of a Snail is a film that will stay with audiences long after they leave the theater.

A Human Story Told Through Stop-Motion

Memoir of a Snail is not just a great animated film it’s one of the best films of 2024, period. Its exploration of life’s hardships and joys is both universal and deeply personal, offering a story that is as relatable as it is unique. Adam Elliot’s return to filmmaking has resulted in a masterpiece that will tug at the heartstrings of even the toughest critics.

While the film’s themes may be heavy, its ultimate message is one of hope and resilience. By the time the credits roll, you’ll find yourself reflecting on your own life and the “shells” that you carry with you. And much like the snails at the center of the film, you’ll be reminded that while we can’t move backward, we can always choose to move forward.

FAQ

1. Is Memoir of a Snail suitable for children?
No, despite its stop-motion animation style, Memoir of a Snail deals with mature themes such as mental illness, grief, and trauma, making it more appropriate for adult audiences.

2. What are some of the major themes explored in the film?
The film explores themes such as mental illness, body dysmorphia, religious extremism, grief, trauma, and the search for hope and resilience in difficult circumstances.

3. How does Sarah Snook’s voice performance contribute to the film?
Sarah Snook’s voice performance as Grace is central to the emotional depth of the film. She brings vulnerability, strength, and authenticity to the character, making Grace’s journey all the more compelling.

4. What makes the animation style of Memoir of a Snail stand out?
The stop-motion animation in Memoir of a Snail has a handmade, tactile quality that enhances the film’s emotional tone. The muted colour palette and attention to detail create a world that feels both whimsical and deeply real.

5. Is Memoir of a Snail one of the best films of 2024?
Yes, Memoir of a Snail is widely regarded as one of the best films of 2024, particularly for its emotional depth, stunning animation, and thoughtful exploration of complex themes.