(Movie) Mary and Max -2009

Synopsis

“Mary and Max” is a story about a lonely young girl named Mary who has a 44-years-old pen pal named Max. She lives in Melbourne and spends her time by watching a TV Show titled “The Nobblets”. Mary’s parents are so busy with their own business and she’s always bullied by her school friends because a birthmark in his forehead.

Max lives in America and spends his time in seclusion. Being slow and obese, and is diagnosed with over-anxiety, depression, and Asperger Syndrome. He spends his time with reading books, trying many recipes, and attending Overeaters Anonymous meeting once a week. Apparently, he likes watching “The Nobblets” too.

Mary found Max’s address from a telephone book. She write a letter to him because she wondered where baby come from in America. As she knew, in Australia baby come from a soda glass. Max replies his letter and answers all of her questions. She then ask almost everything to Max, especially about adult’s problem, because she couldn’t ask that to her parents. Max loves to have a friend to share lot of things.  Turns out, their unusual pen pal relationship continues for years until Mary being adult.

Review

I love to watch animated film and I found this film is unique. It used clay-animated figure for its characters. It also has good visual effects despite using only black, white, sepia, and red colors.

           There’s almost no dialogue between the two main characters in the film because they lived in separated country. Just monologues which could be found in every letter that they’ve sent each other. The whole storyline can be figured out with that letters, supportes by narrator’s explanation.

Although this is an animated film, I don’t think this film is dedicated for kids. In my opinion, this film is a kind of “hard-thinking” film because I couldn’t understand what the story about at the beginning. It has so many terms, jargons, and quotes which is difficult to understand, especially for kids. I could figure what the main point of this film is, only after watched it until the last minute.

Mary

Max

            The point is a friend is not someone who stays around you and nears by your side, but a friend is someone who you can share everything in your life with. Someone who can understand you well, not only your positive side but also your negative one, although she or he never met you at all. A friend is someone who tries to change you to be a better people than before, reminds your mistakes, and gives you some advices if you were wrong.

Last but not least, a friend shouldn’t have to be someone who has the same age with you. It could be someone who has a long age gap, just like Mary and Max. 

"We can, however, choose our friends and i'm glad i have chosen you. 

Everyone's lives are like a very long side walk. Some are well paved, others, like mine. Have cracks banana skins and cigarette butts. Your side is like mine, but probably not as many cracks.

Hopefully, one day our side walks will meet and we can share a can of condensed milk.

You are my best friend,

You are my only friend."

- Max Jerry Horowitz