“Mary Dinkle’s eyes were the color of muddy puddles. Her birthmark, the color of poo.” Following the aside, a little girl with freckles jumps into our eyes. The small village she lives in is quiet and plain, so are the villagers. Born as an accident, Mary has never gained enough love and care from her parents.

Actually, both of her parents are a little bit morbid. Her father always plays with stuff birds alone, while her wobbly mother is addicted to sherry. Poor Mary feels confused about all the things around her and eagerly hopes there is a friend to share and tell.
Meanwhile, Max, a severely obese man with Asperger’s Syndrome is suffering from the chaos of New York. Just like Mary, he adores chocolate, watching ‘The Noblets’, and feeling confuzzled (an original word created by his own, the combination of “confuse” and “puzzle”) about the world. Mary and Max live in total different environment, but they do share some experiences and keen feelings, such as broken family, loneliness, thus beginning their friendship through letters.

For Mary, Max just like a guide who seriously answers her childish questions and wisely comfort her. Also, he is a friend beyond the age barrier. Having problem communicating with the world makes Max innocent and kind as Mary. He put a deep influence on Mary, from her childhood to adulthood, from a ugly girl to a famous writer. It is Max who makes Mary.
For Max, Mary is a window which sends in fresh air to his depressed world. A sort of responsibility rises in him. With the continuous letters with the little girl, he gradually realizes the problem of himself and tries to accept himself and forgive Mary and the world. “You are my best friend. You are my only friend.” The last words Max says in the movie tell all.
This movie is based on a true story of the director. It is obvious that the director’s intention is to extol the great power of friendship. However, the meaning of the story is much varied. Friendship is great in the movie because it helps trigger your confidence, makes your life bright. Friends are live links to the world. No friends equals no connection with the world. And only when one establishes good relation with friends could he deal with the world smoothly. In the movie, the process of developing their friendship is also the process of self-realization.
The following words Max say in the last letter to Mary impressed me very much:
The reason l forgive you is because you are not perfect. You are imperfect, and so am l. All humans are imperfect, even the man outside my apartment who litters, free kisses. When l was young, l wanted to be anybody but myself. Dr Bernard Hazelhof said if l was on a desert island then l would have to get used to my own company -just me and the coconuts. He said l would have to accept myself, my warts and all, and that we don’t get to choose our warts.
I guess most of us often fell into the trap of self-doubting, even self-negation. Such negative emotion wouldn’t trouble truly mature soul. The goal of our life is to be strong enough to defeat all the pressure from the outside world. But the first step is to sweep the obstacles in ourselves. And the only way is to accept yourself, to believe yourself. Then you will have the faith to enter the world, to face it. Love yourself first, and love the world.
Ps. the wonderful OST of Mary and Max is: Penguin Cafe Orchestra – Perpetuum Mobile