Memoir of a Snail

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Memoir of a Snail

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1h 34m

Comedy

Animation

Drama

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Popcornmeter

95%

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132 Reviews

82%

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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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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

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

Feb 19, 2025

Full Review

Beth Webb

Empire Magazine

Weird and wonky in the best way, this is a compelling character study that makes its joys, however fleeting, feel truly earned.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 19, 2025

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

Memoir of a Snail is Elliot’s most ambitious project yet, with an era-spanning narrative, a flashy cast list (Eric Bana and Nick Cave take tiny cameos) and a furious appetite for macabre diversions.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 14, 2025

Full Review

Calum Cooper

Flick Feast

Memoir of a Snail proves a wonderful work of animation. Bleak and morbid in abundance, it uses its stellar animated craft to champion humanity and inner strength even in the face of a lifetime of trauma.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 15, 2025

Full Review

Hilary A White

Sunday Independent (Ireland)

The animation won’t win any beauty prizes any time soon, but that is all part of the squalid charm at the core of the story.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 14, 2025

Full Review

Victoria Luxford

City AM

An exceptional film that is worth the heartbreak, Memoir of a Snail is everything that feels good about animated film.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 13, 2025

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Ben W

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

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Catherine H

Charming film with serious themes lightened with humor. Must see

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/25

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James E

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/25

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Jalen S

Another great animated film released this year. Loved it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/01/25

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dawn ☆

my new favorite movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/31/24

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Clint

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.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

Full Review

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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

Memoir of a Snail: Exclusive Movie Clip -Grace Meets Pinky

1:03

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Memoir of a Snail: Trailer 1

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Memoir of a Snail: Teaser Trailer

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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 (Some Violent Content|Sexual Content|Nudity)
Genre: Comedy, Animation, Drama
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2024, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $621.6K
Runtime: 1h 34m

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