Review of Mary and Max (2009) by Ana B — 12 Jul 2014

Clay animated feature film portraying the unlikely friendship between two completely different individuals. Mary is an Australian child with a withdrawn father and a kleptomaniac and alcoholic mother, trying to survive the scarcity of means of her family and the bullying in her school, a lonely child deeply ashamed of the birthmark in the centre of her forehead. Max is an overweight atheist Jew in his 40s that lives in New York, has several pets, a blind neighbour and only finds comfort in chocolate. By chance they become pen pals and soon their letters will bring solace and spice to their empty lives. In their mail they talk about dreams, chickens, suicide, autism, loving relationships, candy, pet fish and loneliness.

It has been classified as a black comedy but despite the obvious humour of some scenes there are some very tragic episodes here, the whole mental illness background is sorrowful and at times there is very little to laugh about. To me this is more a buddy movie, the tale of two people helping each other and embracing their differences. The subject matter is apparently loosely based in the director's (Adam Elliot) 20 year relationship with a pen-pal that is very much like Max. Mary is a reflection of Elliot's personality and something else, a marginalized individual.

I loved the movie, the characters and the script are very well crafted, they seem likely and strike the right keys without being overly sweet or dramatic. It feels like an honest film. Don't miss it.