By Jasmine Mack, First Year Film and English
Thanks to the lovely people over at Watershed, I was able to catch an advanced viewing of Memoir of a Snail (Adam Elliot, 2024) before it comes out in the UK this Valentine’s Day. I went into this film not knowing anything about it and expecting a sweet Claymation tale of a snail’s life cycle. However, I left the cinema with puffy eyes and salty glasses, and a whole lot of thought-provoking quotes stuck in my head. I was not at all expecting to be so moved by this film, but it turned out to be one of the best animated films I have seen in a long time.
Memoir of a Snail is in fact not about what the title suggests. It follows the life of the melancholic hoarder Grace, an orphan separated from her twin brother Gilbert at a young age, and whilst not a snail herself, she is incredibly obsessed with them. Animated in a style dubbed by Director Adam Elliot as ‘clayography’, this autobiographical narrative follows Grace as she talks to her favourite snail, Sylvia, as she crawls across the vegetable patch of Pinky, Grace’s eccentric elderly friend. From that description I’m sure some people will be ducking away from what is potentially a tragic and bleak film, but I assure you that this is a tragedy worth enduring, as you will come out the other end with a new outlook on life, and with undoubtedly satiated eyeballs as the meticulous production design of this film is a feast for them to behold. It also made me genuinely laugh out loud, with the light absurdity and charming Aussie accents creating moments of hilarity amidst the sadness.
Every aspect of this film is so full of soul, dedication and effort, as is usually the way with the arduous process of stop motion. However, the particular style of Elliot’s Claymation with all its bumps, imperfections, and eccentricities gives so much heart to every frame, and matches the themes of his characters. Each still is so carefully thought out and detailed and is made even more interesting by a quote that has significantly stuck with me: “Life can only be understood backwards, but we must live it forwards”. There are several objects and moments in the film (particularly during the opening credits and scene) that can only be understood fully once the narrative has been completely explored, and there’s something really beautiful in that and the way that this mimics our own lives. The visual aesthetic of this film teeters on an interesting barrier between beauty and disgust; the detail of the production design and meticulous world building is awe inspiring to say the least, though there is something slightly unsettling about some of the character design and action. However, this only corroborates with the bleak subject material and complex characterisation further creating a thoroughly captivating diegesis.
Another feature of this film which makes it so deeply touching is the unique yet relatable characters, and their relationships with each other. Though every character is flawed in some way or another (reflected in their warped clay flesh) they remain likeable and engaging. Apart from Ruth. Ruth is public enemy number one. However, the sweet fiercely protective dynamic between Gilbert and Grace, and the way in which their whole life and relationship is explored in the first half of the film, creates a heart-warming, soul-tied, twin representation making their separation even more heart-breaking. Additionally, Grace and Pinky’s genuine friendship displays a rare generational bridge, with Pinky’s wise advice and fruitful life experiences acting as inspiration for Grace to break free from her shell. Discounting Ruth from the mix, this means that you grow to care for the characters, creating more stakes in an already tragic story and thus a more potent emotional reaction. Which, at least for me, is my main priority in cinema- I need films to make me feel, to my core, whatever emotion they wish to provoke; Memoir of a Snail does just that tenfold.
In closing, I hope that this Valentine’s Day you will head over to Watershed to watch this beautiful, heart-breaking, deeply moving film. Plus, Watershed offers amazing deals for anyone 24 and under to see any film, anytime for £5, so there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t indulge in the masterpiece full of clay and tears that is, Memoir of a Snail. You can book your tickets here!
Will you be catching Memoir of a Snail at the Watershed?
