29/13
A bittersweet memoir by a melancholic woman named Grace Pudel, a hoarder of snails, romance novels, and guinea pigs. The reason Adam Elliot’s films don’t have traditional dialogue (i.e. conversations) is because the films’ low budgets require voice acting for the dialogue. Pinky: Life can only be understood by looking back, but we have to live it by looking forward. Kodi Smit-McPhee appears in the pre-credits, but not in the closing credits. Featured at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards (2025). The animations were sharply executed and the voice acting was excellent; however, what struck me most was how smoothly the film tackles deep emotions while incorporating elements of black comedy. Typically, these two tones exist at opposite ends of the emotional spectrum, and it’s common for writers to falter when trying to blend such contradictory tones. In this case, however, the result was surprising, to say the least. Not only did the creators strike a harmonious balance between humor and sentimentality, but I also found the mix to be neither superficial nor unattractive. Instead, I enjoyed every transition that unfolded throughout the narrative, from beginning to end. I was crying as much as I was laughing, having a great time overall, and I also admire how the story serves as an introspective journey that inspires hope and motivates us to live our lives forward because… “Life can only be understood by looking back, but we have to live it forward.”