Memoir of a Snail

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Memoir of a Snail

R

2024

1h 35m

Comedy

Animation

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

146 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

In 1970s Australia, Grace's life is troubled by misfortune and loss. After their mother dies during pregnancy, she and her twin brother, Gilbert, are raised by their paraplegic-alcoholic former juggler father, Percy. Despite a life filled with love, tragedy strikes anew when Percy passes away in his sleep. The siblings are forcibly separated and thrust into separate homes. Gilbert finds himself in the care of a cruel evangelical family, while Grace, grappling with intense loneliness, gradually withdraws into her shell, much like the snails she adopts. As the years pass, and despite new disappointments and sorrows, a glimmer of hope emerges when she strikes up an enduring friendship with an elderly eccentric woman called Pinky.

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Critics Consensus

This stop motion odyssey of hope triumphing over life's despair with humanity to spare makes Memoir of a Snail a deft, heartfelt tale.

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Ivie Uzebu

Sight & Sound

Nov 20

Composer Elena Kats Chernin’s soaring strings spiral through the score, underlining the potency of Grace’s platonic love and sibling connection in the face of life’s adversities. It invites us, alongside Grace, to shed our shells.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

02/28/2025

4/5

Pitch-black humour occasionally punctures the misery of Elliot’s dark, antipodean fable. The jokes are quite angular. The number plate of the bus that takes Gilbert away reads YRUSAD. For all the gloom, this is a lovely, heartfelt creation.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

02/19/2025

It's very funny, but it's also extremely poignant and at times, it's heartbreaking.

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Ray Greene

CineGods.com

Oct 14

3/4

Grace’s heroism isn’t about saving Christmas or rescuing Coraline’s parents. It comes from having an unendurable life, that, against all odds, she somehow endures.

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Marta Medina Pérez

mundoCine

08/17/2025

4.5/5

Memoir of a Snail stands not only as one of the best animated films of the year, but also as one of the great films of 2024. (...) Consider yourselves warned: have your tissues ready. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Marissa Hill

Shade Studios

07/30/2025

The characters are so richly detailed, both in their design and in their emotional expression, that it feels as though they truly have souls. Memoir of a Snail is at its core, a film for adults, and it mixes dark humor with profound moments of melancholy.

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Ben W

02/15/2025

This was cute. I like the style and overall aesthetic, but I was very bored. I love dramas and slow burns, but this felt a bit like a drag, but it had a lot of charm. Go check it out.

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Catherine H

02/12/2025

Charming film with serious themes lightened with humor. Must see

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James E

02/12/2025

Very slow moving, especially for an animated movie. Happy ending at the very end but extremely depressing for the first 75 minutes. Also the intro to the movie is a 1/2 hour interview with the writer which was incredibly boring. I'd much rather watch the commercials and preview.

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Jalen S

12/31/2024

Another great animated film released this year. Loved it.

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dawn ☆

12/31/2024

my new favorite movie

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Clint

11/21/2024

Walked out around 30 minutes in, would not recommend at all, especially for children. Boring, weird, slow and didn't really care for the animation used.

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Adam Elliot

Director

Sarah Snook

Grace Pudel

Eric Bana

James the Magistrate

Jacki Weaver

Pinky

Kodi Smit-McPhee

Gilbert Pudel

Dominique Pinon

Percy

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Synopsis

In 1970s Australia, Grace's life is troubled by misfortune and loss. After their mother dies during pregnancy, she and her twin brother, Gilbert, are raised by their paraplegic-alcoholic former juggler father, Percy. Despite a life filled with love, tragedy strikes anew when Percy passes away in his sleep. The siblings are forcibly separated and thrust into separate homes. Gilbert finds himself in the care of a cruel evangelical family, while Grace, grappling with intense loneliness, gradually withdraws into her shell, much like the snails she adopts. As the years pass, and despite new disappointments and sorrows, a glimmer of hope emerges when she strikes up an enduring friendship with an elderly eccentric woman called Pinky.

Director: Adam Elliot
Producer: Liz Kearney, Adam Elliot
Screenwriter: Adam Elliot
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Arenamedia
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Nudity|Some Violent Content)
Genre: Comedy, Animation, Drama
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2024, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $621.6K
Runtime: 1h 35m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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