Adam Elliot bring his, seventh clayography feature to the Newport Beach Film Festival with, ‘Memoir of a Snail‘, followed by a Q&A in Costa Mesa, CA.
Set in 1970s Australia, ‘Memoir of a Snail‘ tells the poignant story of Grace Pudel, portrayed by the talented Sarah Snook. Grace’s l
ife is marked by hardship and loss; after their mother dies during pregnancy, she and her twin brother, Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee), are raised by their paraplegic and alcoholic father, Percy (Dominique Pinon). The film sensitively explores their struggles, culminating in the tragic death of Percy, which forces the siblings into separate homes.
Gilbert finds himself under the harsh care of a cruel evangelical family, while Grace, grappling with profound loneliness, retreats into her shell—literally—adopting snails that symbolize her isolation. As the years go by, despite facing numerous disappointments, a spark of hope emerges when Grace forms an unlikely yet heartfelt friendship with Pinky, an eccentric elderly woman played by Jacki Weaver. Their bond becomes the emotional core of the film, illustrating how connections can flourish even in the bleakest of circumstances, reminding us that hope can thrive amidst despair.
Elliot talks about how ‘Memoir of a Snail‘ is the seventh apart of his, “trilogy of trilogies” where he heard Quinton Tarentino talking about wanting to make only 10 films, so he decided on making nine, three short-shorts, three long-shorts and three full-length features, stating that would be the end of career as a filmmaker. He also explains the difference between clayography and claymation.
Also in our interview, we also discuss Eric Bana’s role as the “self-loving” magistrate. We joke that he was too large to be Bruce Banner in ‘Hulk‘ already embodying the size of the iconic green monster in real life.
‘Memoir of a Snail‘ screens tonight at The Triangle in Costa Mesa, CA, the 25th Newport Beach Film Festival with a Q&A and following the screening.
To purchase tickets for ‘Memoir of a Snail‘ visit: https://nbff2024.eventive.org/.
