Review of Puzzle (2018) by Johnathan D — 09 Aug 2018

This simple film is believable. It is also very sad. The music is the "rails" on which this train rides. The acting scores high marks especially for Agnes' family. They have to watch the transformation unfold too! Macdonald will make all the awards lists for a powerful performance of rebellion, liberation, and metamorphosis.

She is beautiful, quirky, and mercurial, but as the film moves toward the subtle conclusion, she becomes stronger, empowered. Puzzle will resonate with many middle-aged, married types, which was largely the audience at the arthouse I attended.

This is a sleeper-centering its story around jigsaw puzzles; but anyone who has walked this road will catch their breath at how the different pieces interlock together to form a conflicting mosaic. Not everybody gets what they want, the result of Agnes' decisions is far from a perfect fit; dramatic, yet tragic in many ways.

It reflects the imperfections of life, relationships, and love.