Review of Mary and Max (2009) by Sylvester K — 14 Oct 2014

Mary and Max is by far the best clay animation film I've ever seen. Mary and Max were two unlikely pen pals. Mary was an 8 year old girl who has a birthmark with the colour of poo on her forehead, her family weren't any better. Her mother was an alcoholic kleptomaniac who offered little comfort to her; her father was always busy at work with a strange interest in taxidermy of birds. Max was an obese, middle aged, Jewish man with Asperger's syndrome. The only things they had in common were that they both enjoy collecting action figures from a cartoon and that they both had no friends. This unlikely friendship grew over the year, however, Mary became a psychologist and publishing a book about Max which enraged Max, would their friendship last?

I enjoy the really bleak atmosphere and characterization of the protagonists, nothing good was going to happen to them and we are made to know it immediately. The grey scale clay figures and set designs were really well crafted. There were some really controversial subjects being discussed with ease, not only Elliot was able to poke fun of the pop culture, he was also able to show some deep insight into the lives of the marginalized groups.

The narration was simply superb like his earlier works, as the characters/narrator narrates, the events happen at the same time to help the audience visualize the words in a dark, yet humourous way.

I must admit that I was wallowing in tears at the end. It really touched the soft spot within me as I've always been fascinated with Asperger's syndrome. Mary and Max is a must see.