“Life can only be understood backwards, but we have to live it forwards.”
Memoir of a Snail is a beautiful way to honor Søren Kierkegaard’s philosophy. Particularly in the opening scene where we wouldn’t understand the significance of things on the floor until we later learned about their history. Then the film’s progression to the final arc solidified the notion that life must be lived forward. It was a profound film that helped me grasp the meaning of life a bit better.
We witnessed the stark contrast between the physically caged twin and the mentally caged twin, showcasing how vastly different they were in navigating their world, forced to live apart.
Initially, I was a bit hesitant about the film’s style, but it soon grew on me and left me in awe of the meticulously designed stop-motion visuals.
The dialogue was exceptionally well-crafted, as if it were a novel with a compelling narrative, enhanced by the outstanding voice acting that made me feel like I was engaged in a genuine conversation about life lessons. I also thoroughly enjoyed all the wordplay in the film.
The score was equally impressive, sensational, and emotionally resonant, seamlessly flowing throughout the film and perfectly complementing the entire narrative.
However, I was left wanting to know more about Gilbert’s psyche. Also, I believe the core message would have been stronger if it had been concluded with Pinky’s letter, accompanied by a brief montage.