Memoir of a Snail – Stop-Motion Maturity
Written by Dr. Zoe Crombie
Of all the Oscars categories, Best Animated Feature must be the most infuriating for cinephiles. A section of the show in which independent film has been historically ignored in favour of big budget family exercises – and one where members have admitted to simply voting for their child’s favourite without watching… - it’s long felt as though the category was behind the cinematic times. Thankfully, this year’s winner Flow demonstrates the power of animation beyond Disney, while the category’s other indie entry is a fantastic example of the maturity that can emerge from this form.
Another rare Oscar nominated film that enthusiastically bucks the idea of animation being exclusively for children, Adam Elliot’s Memoir of a Snail is the second ever R rated film to be nominated in the Best Animated Feature category. Depicting the semi-autobiographical life of Grace, a misfit woman from childhood to adulthood, the film is rendered in haunting stop motion, closer to the experimental style of hard-hitting shorts like Bestia than the colourful world of Wallace and Gromit. Backing up the meticulous visuals is an ensemble of Australian talent, including Succession’s Sarah Snook in the leading role.
Reminiscent of pensive stop motion creations like Anomalisa – the only other R rated animation nominee – Memoir of a Snail is a beautifully unique entry to the canon of animated films for adults.
Catch Memoir of a Snail on the 25th & 26th March
