The Wasteland Reviewer

Memoir of a Snail (2024) Written Review

What is possible with animation when you get past the idea that it is only for children? Adam Elliot certainly understands the medium as his film Mary & Max was a mature and engaging film that tackles the taboo, relatable, and meaningful. Elliot is not concerned about creating a beautiful world of animation but is more concerned with creating a unique space where the beauty of the human experience can flourish on screen. A new canvas for Elliot’s art is the life of Grace Pudel and her story is called Memoir of a Snail. 

What about Grace’s life makes for such a compelling and moving experience? Grace has had a rough life that has been filled with loss, trauma, and roadblocks along the way. Elliot certainly does not shy away from the taboo and challenges as his characters deal with public masturbating, gay repression, food/body related fetishes, and hoarding. There is even more but those certainly get the point across that Elliot will never sugar-coat his tales. Grace’s story is presented through effective voiceover narration that adds personality and humor to the proceedings. Grace has plenty of people, guinea pigs, and snails come in and out of her life, but it is her persistence in the face of adversity that makes this cinematic experience so impactful. Elliot’s dialogue speaks so much truth through the musings of his characters. There are specifically some profound moments that tie the film together well. 

How compelling does Elliot create an engaging space for this story to flourish? From the opening credits, Elliot is already engaging the audience on multiple levels. The junk yard at the beginning of the film allows Elliot to show off just how detailed and unique the visual stylizing of his film is going to be. The items on display also set the stage for Grace’s story as well. The animation is grotesque as our characters look like they are from a darker and twisted world compared to ours and the setting fits the bill as well. There are plenty of poignant moments in the film and they are given depth through the interesting visuals of the film. There is a horrific sequence of electrocution and flames that has the visual beats that reinforces the weight and emotions of the scene. Grace herself is a character where her looks become so significant on her journey and Elliot is so intentional in creating a character like her. Few animated films (and films in general) from this year will present such a unique visual experience that reinforces the themes and feelings of its story. 

What is one of the most important aspects of any animated film? The voice performers. There is a whole cast of talented (mostly Australian) actors. The one true star of Elliot’s film is Sarah Snook. After gaining much praise for Succession, Snook soars in the role of Grace with so much vulnerability and emotion adding incredible layers to an already empathetic and strange character. Kodi Smit-McPhee continues his intriguing filmography as Grace’s brother Gilbert who goes on plenty of trials himself. There are some strong veteran actors who fill out the cast as well with the likes of Eric Bana and Jacki Weaver. Elliot himself along with Dominique Pinon and Nick Cave create some strange and offbeat characters that reinforce the strange world of Memoir of a Snail. 

What does this snail trail lie on the cinematic road of 2024? There is a field full of big studio efforts that pack plenty of merit themselves, but few hit the depths of the human soul that Memoir of a Snail does. There are plenty of emotional moments from the jump that will bring tears, smiles, and laughs. Watching an Elliot stop-motion film is quite the experience, and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint in any way. An emotional roller-coaster with plenty of sexuality, heartbreak, hope, and love is just what you get with this offbeat Australian drama.