Mary and Max 2009
Directed by
Adam Elliot
Made by
Melodrama Pictures
Mary and Max Plot Summary
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In 1976, eight-year-old Mary Daisy Dinkle, Bethany Whitmore, leads a lonely life in Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia. Her classmates tease her for a birthmark on her forehead, and her father Noel remains distant while her mother Vera — an alcoholic, kleptomaniac — offers little support. Her small comforts are her pet rooster Ethel, her favorite food condensed milk, and a Smurfs-like cartoon show called The Noblets. While at the post office with her mother, Mary spots a New York City telephone book and, curious about Americans, decides to write to one. She randomly selects Max Jerry Horowitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and sends him a letter about herself.
Max is a morbidly obese 44-year-old Jewish atheist who grapples with forming relationships due to a mix of mental and social struggles. Mary’s letter initially triggers an anxiety attack, but he writes back, and the two become friends — partly because of their shared love of chocolate and The Noblets. Vera disapproves of Max, so Mary suggests he write to her agoraphobic neighbor Len Hislop, John Flaus. Mary asks Max about love, and he endures a severe anxiety episode that leads to eight months in an institution. He later wins the New York Lottery, buying a lifetime supply of chocolate and the entire collection of Noblet figurines; the leftovers go to his elderly neighbor Ivy, who pampers herself before dying in a jet-pack-related accident. Mary grows despondent, believing that Max has abandoned her.
Max eventually writes back, explaining that he has Asperger syndrome. The two keep up their correspondence for the next several years. When Noel retires, he takes up metal detecting and is swept away by a powerful tidal bore while on a beach. Mary, now an adult, attends the University of Melbourne, has her birthmark removed, and develops a crush on her next‑door neighbor, Damien Popodopoulos, Eric Bana. Vera accidentally drinks embalming fluid instead of cooking sherry and dies, shaking Mary’s world further. Mary and Damien marry, though Damien is shown to be uncomfortable with intimacy.
Mary studies psychology and writes a doctoral dissertation on finding a cure for Asperger syndrome, using Max as her case study, despite his earlier statements about not needing or wanting to be cured. She sends Max a copy, and he becomes furious, believing she has exploited him. He sabotages the project by removing the letter “M” from his typewriter, effectively ending their correspondence. Mary has the entire run of her book pulped, a blow that leaves her depressed and drinking. She finds a can of condensed milk and sends it to Max as an apology. She later receives a letter from Damien informing her that he has left her for his pen pal, Desmond.
After a violent outburst toward a homeless man (triggered by a cigarette thrown on the ground), Max realizes that everyone is imperfect like himself. He resolves to forgive Mary and sends her his Noblet figurine collection. Mary, however, does not immediately find the box on her doorstep. Unbeknownst to her, she is pregnant with Damien’s child. She contemplates suicide until Len alerts her to Max’s package. A letter from Max reveals his realization that they are not perfect, yet they cherish their friendship and what they have shared across years.
One year later, Mary travels to New York with her infant to visit Max. She discovers him dead on his couch, peacefully gazing upward. All the letters she sent over the years are taped to the ceiling, a testament to the enduring value Max placed on their friendship. Morally and emotionally moved, Mary sits beside him, cries tears of joy, and carries the memory of their bond forward as she faces an uncertain yet hopeful future.
Mary and Max Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Mary and Max (2009) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Mary writes to Max after spotting the New York phone book
In 1976, eight-year-old Mary Daisy Dinkle lives in Mount Waverley, Australia, feeling lonely and teased for her birthmark. She spots a New York City phone book and randomly writes to one person, Max Jerry Horowitz, sharing details about her life. This impulsive letter sets up a long-distance friendship that will span decades.
Max replies and a cross-continental friendship forms
Max, a morbidly obese, Jewish atheist in New York, writes back, initiating a correspondence that grows into friendship. Both share a fondness for chocolate and a cartoon called The Noblets, which deepens their bond. The unlikely alliance begins despite the physical distance and cultural differences.
Question about love leads to Max's anxiety attack
Mary asks Max about love, triggering a severe anxiety attack in him. He is hospitalized and institutionalized for eight months as a result. The distant friendship becomes a lifeline during his treatment, shaping how they relate afterward.
Max wins the New York Lottery and indulges his favorites
During his time away, Max wins the New York Lottery and buys a lifetime supply of chocolate plus the entire Noblet figurine collection. He enjoys these rewards as a rare escape from his daily anxieties. The windfall also leads him to share his wealth with others in his circle.
Ivy receives Max’s gift, then dies; Mary fears abandonment
Max gives the remaining winnings to his elderly neighbour Ivy, who indulges herself before dying in a jet-pack-related accident. Mary, hearing of his generosity, feels as though Max has abandoned their friendship. The episode underscores the fragility of distant connections.
Max reveals Asperger syndrome and keeps writing
Max finally explains to Mary that he has Asperger syndrome, reframing their relationship from romance to intimate friendship. The letters continue for several years, bridging the distance with humor, care, and shared interests. Mary learns to see him beyond his quirks while maintaining their unique bond.
Noel retires and is swept away on a beach
Mary's father Noel retires and takes up metal detecting, only to be swept away by a large tidal bore while on a beach. The tragedy adds to the sense of loss and distance within Mary's family. It marks another turning point in her growing independence.
Mary goes to the University of Melbourne
As an adult, Mary attends the University of Melbourne. She has her birthmark removed and develops a crush on her neighbor Damien Popodopoulos, setting up future relationships and the complexities of her personal life. Her academic path begins to define her identity beyond childhood.
Vera dies after drinking embalming fluid
Mary's mother Vera accidentally drinks embalming fluid instead of cooking sherry, leading to her death. The event further destabilizes Mary's home life and fuels her sense of fragility. It marks a severe turning point in her family dynamic.
Mary marries Damien Popodopoulos
Mary and her neighbor Damien marry, though he is uncomfortable with intimacy. The marriage reveals the tension between emotional connection and physical closeness. It complicates her pursuit of personal happiness and professional ambitions.
Mary’s dissertation about Asperger’s with Max as case study
Mary studies psychology and writes a doctoral dissertation about finding a cure for Asperger syndrome, using Max as her case study. Max feels exploited and cuts off contact by removing the letter M from his typewriter. The professional distance strains their long-running friendship.
Mary’s book is pulped; depression and betrayal follow
Mary has the entire run of her book pulped, ending her academic career and sending her into a deep depression. She starts drinking and seeks solace in a can of condensed milk she sends to Max as an apology. Soon after, Damien reveals that he has left her for his pen pal, Desmond.
Len’s intervention and Max’s gesture of forgiveness
Having conquered his agoraphobia, Len informs Mary that Max has sent the Noblet figurine collection as a gesture of forgiveness. Mary delays, not knowing what to expect, while she contemplates their imperfect friendship. Max's message shows that he still values their connection.
A year later, Mary visits Max in New York with her baby
A year after the earlier turmoil, Mary travels to New York with her infant to visit Max. She discovers him dead on his couch, smiling, with the letters Mary sent over the years taped to the ceiling above him. The scene culminates in a bittersweet acknowledgment of a friendship that endured despite distance and time.
Mary and Max Characters
Explore all characters from Mary and Max (2009). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Mary Daisy Dinkle (Toni Collette)
An imaginative, lonely eight-year-old girl who seeks connection beyond her insular life in Mount Waverley. Her curiosity about Americans leads her to write to a stranger in New York, sparking a lifelong friendship. As an adult, she pursues psychology, faces personal losses, and navigates love, marriage, and motherhood.
Max Jerry Horowitz (Philip Seymour Hoffman)
A morbidly obese, Jewish atheist man with anxiety who struggles to form close relationships. His initial panic at Mary’s letter evolves into a deep, maintaining friendship; he is later diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, and his life unfolds through a mix of achievement, miscommunication, and forgiveness.
Len Hislop (John Flaus)
Agoraphobic neighbor who plays a pivotal role in supporting Mary’s relationship with Max and keeping a bridge between distant lives. His own quiet resilience helps sustain the connection when others can’t.
Vera Lorraine Dinkle (Renée Geyer)
Mary’s alcoholic, kleptomaniac mother who provides little support and often creates instability at home. Her struggles contribute to Mary’s sense of abandonment, and her eventual death marks a painful turning point in the family.
Damien Popodopoulos (Eric Bana)
Mary’s neighbor and love interest who ultimately marries her but struggles with intimacy. He leaves Mary for his pen pal Desmond, a twist that underscores the complexities of relationships explored in the film.
Young Mary (Bethany Whitmore)
Mary as a child, facing teasing for her birthmark and seeking comfort in small joys like The Noblets and condensed milk. Her early experiences set the emotional stage for her later adult decisions and friendships.
Mary and Max Settings
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Time period
1970s–1990s
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.
Location
Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia; New York City, United States
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.
Mary and Max Themes
Discover the main themes in Mary and Max (2009). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Mary and Max Spoiler-Free Summary
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In the quiet suburbs of 1970s Melbourne, an eight‑year‑old girl named Mary lives a solitary life surrounded by the ordinary comforts of a pet rooster, a love of condensed milk, and a whimsical cartoon called The Noblets. Her world feels small and a little harsh—classmates tease her distinctive birthmark, and the adults around her are distant or struggling in their own ways. This gentle, melancholy setting is painted with muted colours and a subtle humor that underscores the loneliness of a child yearning for connection.
One day, while visiting a post office with her mother, Mary’s curiosity is sparked by a massive telephone directory from across the world. On a whim, she reaches out to a random name, an unknown stranger in New York, and begins an earnest exchange of letters. The recipient, Max, is a reclusive, severely obese middle‑aged man who lives a solitary life in the bustling metropolis. Though their lives could not be more different, both share a fragile sense of isolation and a vivid imagination that finds solace in the same animated series and the simple pleasure of chocolate.
Their correspondence becomes a quiet bridge across continents, allowing each to glimpse a world far beyond their own walls. The film’s tone balances tender melancholy with moments of quiet humor, inviting the audience to feel the delicate dance between imagination and reality. As their friendship deepens, the story gently explores themes of empathy, the power of written word, and how unlikely bonds can illuminate the hidden corners of both a shy child’s heart and a withdrawn adult’s life.
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