The first full-length animated feature from Australian Adam Elliot (an Oscar winner for his short Harvie Krumpet) is a whimsically dark yet poignant account of the unlikely, long-term pen-pal friendship that develops between shy Melbourne girl Mary and grumpy middle-aged Max, who resides in New York. This tale of two outsiders is lovingly rendered in traditional claymation and Elliot's expressive creations are wonderfully brought to life by the talented voice cast, which is led by Toni Collette as the grown-up Mary and Philip Seymour Hoffman as her Asperger's-suffering correspondent. Listen out, too, for the distinctive tones of Eric Bana and Barry Humphries, who narrates. Note, however, that the melancholy story isn't really suitable for children.

A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York.