Memoir of a Snail
By Kit Macdonald
Filmoteca's three-day Reteena Festival is billed as "a space for discovery, experimentation and reflection on audiovisuals aimed at young people. Made by and for young audiences, it includes a range of masterclasses, workshops and training on photography, television, series, cinema, animation and radio."
Memoir of a Snail is the first of five films to be shown over the weekend as part of the festival - there are six screenings in total, with Henry Selick's Coraline shown twice. Visually stunning, deeply whimsical and utterly heartwarming, Memoir of a Snail is by Adam Elliot - very much Australia's answer to Aardman's Nick Park - and follows the story of a lonely young girl named Grace who collects snail figurines and has a deep love for romance novels. Sarah Snook of Succession and Kodi Smit-McPhee put in wonderful star voice-acting turns. See the Filmoteca website for full details on Reteena.