A mesmerizing and delightful film about the bittersweet life of Grace Pudel, a collector of snails, romantic stories, and guinea pigs. A visually stunning stop-motion masterpiece by Oscar-winning director Adam Elliot.
Memoir of a Snail follows Grace Pudel, an introverted woman from Canberra who retreats further into her shell after the death of her father and the separation from her twin brother, Gilbert. As Grace shares her story with her beloved pet snail, Sylvia, a beautifully tragicomic world unfolds—filled with warmth, eccentric characters, melancholy, and visual humor.
Grace and her brother are placed in separate foster homes, each on the opposite side of the country. The tragedies in the lives of these delicately crafted clay characters pile up relentlessly. Yet, in true Elliot fashion, he magically weaves hardship with dark humor, creating a film that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking—while also hilariously absurd. A standout role belongs to Pinky, Grace’s flamboyant friend and pillar of support. Now in her eighties, Pinky carries a lifetime of adventures etched into the wrinkles of her face, from playing table tennis with Fidel Castro to a rendezvous with John Denver in a helicopter. Many of these tales are inspired by real-life stories from Elliot’s own surroundings, particularly those of his mother, which is why he describes the film as a “clayography.”
With an extraordinary voice cast featuring Sarah Snook, Jacki Weaver, and Nick Cave, and awarded the top prize at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Festival, Memoir of a Snail is a film that enchants, moves, and amuses—one that will undoubtedly steal your heart.