'Puzzle' Puts Together A Stunning Drama [Sundance Review]

From its first elegantly shot frame, you know “Puzzle” is going to be something special. When we meet Agnes (a remarkable Kelly Macdonald, riveting even in her quietest moments), she’s in her comfort zone, readying her home for a party, meticulously vacuuming and cleaning every inch of dirt in the living room. Even when the party begins she is still at work, focusing on what might be “off” in the living room, but here’s the kicker: she emerges from the kitchen carrying a birthday cake filled with candles and her guests start to singing “Happy Birthday” to her.

As the party continues Agnes breaks a plate, scrambles to find the pieces, and uses super glue to try (unsuccessfully) to reassemble it. A piece has gone missing. The next day she opens her presents and finds a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle that she manages to complete in less than an hour. The seemingly ordinary Agnes has an extraordinary gift, and that sparks something in her that she can’t ignore.

Agnes’ husband Louie (the perfectly cast David Denman) is a creature of habit. He and Agnes seemed to have made a deal over the years in which she takes care of the house, groceries, and bills while he works 9 to 5 at this auto repair shop, providing for the family. And yet, his world is about to be changed forever, not just from the act of a single jigsaw puzzle being completed. But another one, and then another one, and then another one….

Agnes phones the friend that bought her the puzzle, and wants to know where can find more. Forget Amazon or any kind of online outlet, Agnes is just not that type of gal. She’s old-school, even cringing at the notion of using the iPhone her kids bought for her birthday. It turns out the puzzle was purchased in New York City, and despite only living an hour away, Agnes has never been there. But she takes the journey and comes across a very curious ad: a champion puzzler is looking for a partner.

That champion puzzler is Robert (an incredibly subtle and deadpan Irrfan Khan), who is an emotional wreck following a split with his wife, and he’s obsessed with natural disasters, keeping an around-the-clock eye on the news. However, Agnes and Robert are two peas in a pod, hitting it off in their own unique way, and an intense romantic yearning builds between them.

We already know we’re in thoughtful hands in “Puzzle” thanks to a screenwriting credit from Oren Moverman (“The Messenger,” “Love and Mercy,” “I’m Not There“). However, what’s so unexpected is the direction from Marc Turtletaub. A veteran producer (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “Loving“), here the 71-year-old director takes the feature-length reins for only the second time in his career (following 2013’s  “Gods Behaving Badly“) and it’s clear all those years hanging around some of the very best filmmakers on the planet have paved the way for this remarkable film.

Based on the Argentinian filmmaker Natalia Smirnoff‘s 2009 film “Rompecabezas,” Moverman’s script contains such subtle and nuanced differences that they can be seen as two totally different entities. Turtletaub and Moverman’s film is much more moody, taking its time to let its characters breathe, building up a beautiful atmosphere filled with richly lit, eye-melting shots by director of photography Chris Norr.

Eventually, things do get somewhat complicated in Moverman’s script, with a struggle to tie things up, if they should be tied-up at all, but Agnes’ dilemma to pursue her personhood is never overdone. Just like her own personality, the film is restrained enough to always leave a mystery lingering behind every decision. Turtletaub does have a hard time finding a way to conclude Agnes’ story, but he ends “Puzzle” on such a delightful note of simplicity, that this near-perfect movie nevertheless stuns. [B+/A-]

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