Perfect movie for pen pals

My dear pen pal friend David from France suggested me to watch Mary and Max, for two reasons:

1. It's plot revolves around pen palling

2. It's Stop Motion

I knew nothing about this film until a few weeks ago, and I sincerely thing that it's very underestimated. It's very dramatic, dark and realistic. As the film itself says "life sometimes just happens"

Directed by Adam Elliot and released in 2009, the film tells the story of a eight-year-old Mary lives a lonely life in Australia. At school, she is teased, while at home, her distant father, and alcoholic mother Vera provide little support. One day, while at the post office with her mother, Mary randomly chooses Max sees a telephone book and, becoming curious about Americans, decides to write to one, with the hope that he will become her pen pal.

I have to admit that this film is not for everybody, it has a bittersweet development following by a very brutal ending. There was a touring exhibition where there were displayed character models, as well as sets, props (such as vehicles, a phone box, Max’s TV and more) conceptual sketches and storyboards.

Image credit. Melbourne places and Wikipedia