Starting February 27, Russian audiences will have the opportunity to see the animated film 'Memoir of a Snail' in official release. We tell you what makes this work good and why it earned an Oscar nomination in the 'Best Animated Feature' category.

The animated film tells the story of Grace Puddle, an ordinary Australian girl from Melbourne. She has a twin brother from whom she was separated in early childhood. Their mother died at birth, and their disabled father suffers from periodic apnea. The heroine's life is not like a good-natured sitcom. The girl hardly leaves the house, suffers from a lack of attention from others, and at one point cannot even resist stealing. But despite all the hardships, Grace tries to pull herself together and change the situation. It is during this turning point that she meets a cheerful old lady, Pinky, who, even in old age, proves that you need to cherish every day you live and find positive moments in it.

In his new animated feature, director and screenwriter Adam Benjamin Elliot continues to adhere to his signature style and narrative manner. The similarity to his previous feature-length animated film 'Mary and Max', released in 2009, is obvious. The unusual appearance of the characters has become an integral feature of the director's work.

The imperfection of the images emphasizes their uniqueness and tragedy, making the viewer empathize with them even more. The characters are distinguished by large eyes, disproportionate heads, arms and torsos, as well as fat folds on the body. Such features are rarely found in commercial projects of large studios, which allows works like 'Memoir of a Snail' to stand out favorably from the gray mass.

In the world created by Elliot, bright colors are completely absent. At the same time, he does not seek to show a world full of gloom, chthonic horror, grief and danger. On the contrary, he uses contrast to emphasize those aspects that might go unnoticed in ordinary life. For example, the simple pleasure of reading together or visiting an amusement park.

Nine years have passed since the release of the director's previous work, the short animated film 'Ernie Biscuit', but it cannot be said that he has been idle all this time. 'Memoir of a Snail' was developed over eight years, which indicates careful attention to detail and a sincere love for his craft. Moreover, the method of plasticine stop-motion animation is not the simplest process in the industry. However, this unconventional approach allows for diversifying content for cinemas and once again reminds that animation is not limited solely to pop-culture projects made in 2D and 3D styles.

In 'Memoir of a Snail', the traditional three-act structure is almost completely absent. All actions unfold based on the title, which sets the tone for the entire narrative. One could say the film conducts a monologue with the viewer, as paradoxical as that may sound. Events follow one after another, without unnecessary moralizing, and by the final credits, it seems that the film can help heal emotional wounds, replacing a therapy session. For both the author and the viewer.

For those not yet familiar with the work of Adam Benjamin Elliot, it is worth knowing that his works are intended more for an adult audience than for children. Most likely, young, inexperienced minds without parental help will find it difficult to understand some details that are quite directly stated here. For example, human imperfection, enjoyment of life, religion, sexual preferences, and depression.

Such an age restriction is another feature of Elliot's work, who creates animated works not for commercial success, but to reflect on very important things.

At the upcoming Oscar ceremony, Adam Benjamin Elliot's animated film will most likely not win the main prize. Although it has worthily taken its niche among the nominees, it will be difficult for it to compete with major studio projects like the second 'Inside Out' and 'The Wild Robot'. And the indie hit 'Flow' is unlikely to be surpassed. However, the very fact that such a modest project as 'Memoir of a Snail' was noticed by film academics inspires optimism.