Mary and Max

The narrative begins in 1976 with Mary as a young child and follows her life through adolescence and into adulthood. It spans several decades of change, including Mary’s university years and her later career, as well as Max’s lifetime arc across mid-to-late 20th century settings.

The story primarily unfolds in the Melbourne suburb of Mount Waverley, a quiet, ordinary Australian town. It also travels across the ocean to New York City, where Max’s world and Mary’s correspondence converge. The contrast between a tight-knit Australian suburb and the sprawling urban landscape of New York underscores themes of isolation and connection.

🤝 Friendship

A lifelong friendship forms across continents when a lonely Australian girl and a troubled New Yorker exchange letters. Their bond grows through shared interests and mutual understanding, serving as a lifeline during difficult times. The theme explores how empathy and consistency can transcend physical distance and personal differences.

🧠 Neurodiversity

Max’s Asperger-like presentation and Mary’s intellectual curiosity frame the story around neurodiversity and mental health. The characters navigate social misunderstandings, stigma, and the search for acceptance. The depiction emphasizes that vulnerability and intellect can coexist with vulnerability and strength.

💔 Loneliness & Belonging

Both leads experience deep loneliness: Mary in a strained family and Max in social isolation. Their letters become a path to belonging they can’t find in their immediate worlds. The film meditates on how belonging can be found in unexpected places, even if it’s imperfect.

🎁 Forgiveness & Redemption

Over years of correspondence, both characters learn to forgive each other’s flaws and missteps. Max’s eventual gesture of sending his Noblet collection and Mary’s realization of their imperfect lives highlight forgiveness as a form of closure. The ending suggests that friendship can endure beyond distance, misunderstanding, and time.