Despite it’s humor and animation style, Memoir of a Snail manages to be a brutal dive into how cruel the world can be, while espousing the power of hope.
Memoir of a Snail
Directed by: Adam Elliot
Written by: Adam Elliot
Starring: Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Eric Bana, Jacki Weaver
Release Date: October 25, 2024 (Limited)
Having not checked out any real trailers for Memoir of a Snail and only really going off the art seen on the poster in my press releases, I had no idea what I was in for with this film. While it’s a stop-motion animated flick, this is not about an actual snail. It’s metaphorical!
Along these same lines, it’s important to mention the film is definitely not for kids. It’s an adult animated film, not necessarily in the raunchy style of things like Sausage Party (though some nudity is used to hilarious effect), but more so in the themes it deals with.
The film centers on Grace (voiced by Sarah Snook) who, following the death of her elderly friend, recounts her life story to the snail(s) she’s set free in the garden. As the name implies, the film takes us on a journey from her earliest childhood memories all the way through adulthood…It is not a happy tale. In fact, it is often filled with heartache and struggles since she and her twin brother were born. Despite all that, however, Grace’s dedication to “moving on” and finding hope serves as a compelling lesson we can all learn from.
Generally speaking, I’m not normally big on slice of life style movies, which is pretty much how Memoir of a Snail is presented. That said, there’s something oddly compelling about how it’s handled. Whether it’s through the quirks of the animation or the humor sprinkled throughout, it’s oddly charming which makes it tough to disengage once you start watching.
The overall pacing and structure of the story goes a long way towards this aspect as well. Honestly, there’s so much that happens to Grace throughout, where I found myself turning into the “Jesus Christ” meme guy. And yet, all of that is expertly balanced with a lighthearted tone, a dash of something akin to whimsy, and even hope. As as result it’s impossible not to become enamored with Grace’s melancholic story and I’ve found myself thinking about it quite a bit since the credits rolled.
Even though it’s presented as “slice of life,” it’s a film that absolutely sticks with you. Namely because, despite all the heartache and tragedy that sits at the core of Grace’s life, hope is a driving factor in Memoir of a Snail. As much as it’s about suffering, it’s also about perseverance.
What resonated most with me about the theme/message (without diving into spoilers) is how it emphasizes there’s never a bad time to “come out of your shell” and be the person you want to be. There doesn’t have to be an age limit on being happy and moving forward, and the only limits are those you place on yourself. While they can be daunting to free yourself from, it’s not impossible.
It’s a message I definitely needed to hear and presented in a way that manages to be truly heartwarming without being preachy. Even with all the terrible things that happened, I came out of the movie with a sense of hope and a warmth akin to joy.
