Mary and Max

Eight-year-old Mary Dinkle grows up in a bleak suburb of Melbourne, Australia, and life isn’t easy for her. Her parents ignore her, and at school she’s bullied because of the chestnut-colored birthmark on her forehead. One day, out of sheer curiosity, she randomly picks a name from an American phone book and sends a letter to Max Horovitz, a severely overweight, 44-year-old Jewish man with Asperger’s living in chaotic New York City. What begins as an innocent exchange of letters evolves into a profound, decades-long friendship between two misfits who understand each other better than anyone else.

Max, who struggles with social interactions and the unpredictability of the world around him, finds in Mary someone who accepts him just the way he is. His letters are filled with dry humor, existential questions, and curious observations—like why people have a favorite ice cream flavor, and how the world would function without lies. As the years go by and Mary grows into adulthood, trying to find herself, their relationship changes. Misunderstandings and disappointments arise, yet an invisible bond always remains between them.

With its unique stop-motion animation style, melancholic soundtrack, and a blend of absurdity and heartfelt emotion, *Mary and Max* is a timeless tale of friendship, loneliness, and acceptance. It’s no wonder the film has become a favorite among cinephiles around the world.