Her life may be a mess, but Grace Pudel (Snook, Succession; Predestination) does derive pleasure from three things: her snail collection, romance novels and her guinea pigs. As children, she and twin brother Gilbert (Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog; Slow West) struggled with their paraplegic, alcoholic father, who was devastated by their mother’s death. When he too passes away, the siblings are split up by child services: Grace is sent to Canberra, and Gilbert to Perth. Isolated and depressed, Grace retreats behind a carapace – much like her snails – and fills her emotional void through compulsive hoarding. That is, until an unexpected friendship with lively octogenarian Pinky (Weaver, Animal Kingdom; Silver Linings Playbook) offers her a new source of joy.

This exquisitely hand-crafted stop-motion wonder from the auteur behind the multi-awarded feature Mary and Max, Oscar-winning short Harvie Krumpet and AFI-lauded short Ernie Biscuit is an affecting coming-of-age tale like no other. As it traces one downtrodden young woman’s journey to overcome loss and embrace herself, this bittersweet yet uplifting film also unfolds as a family saga across 1970s Australia on an intimate scale.

Memoir of a Snail is an indelible reminder that while the turmoil of life may force us into our shells, all it takes is a little bravery to break free.

Film score composed by Elana Kats-Chernin.

Winner of the 2024 Cristal for Best Animated Feature

DOORS OPEN 3pm for a 3:30pm start

“Elliot is a master of the art of gallows humour, and this appealing ‘clayography’ is as hilarious as it is heart-wrenching … A tale of a woman who refuses to be defeated by misfortune.” Screen Daily