I actually watched this movie more than two months ago. It was before I started posting reviews on my blog. What brought me back to "Puzzle" was finding out the news of Irrfan Khan's passing today. He was one of the main actors in this movie and I decided to post my review today in memory of him.
The movie I watched was the American version. The original is Argentine, which I have not yet seen. I had never even heard of "Puzzle" when I spotted it on the shelf at the library. If I remember correctly, I was there to pick up one movie, which they did not have. When I saw "Puzzle", I knew I had to borrow it. After all, I do love fixing jigsaw puzzles and I was like a kid in a candy store when I saw that an entire movie (two, at that!) about one of my favorite hobbies had been released.
The story is about a woman, Agnes, played by Kelly Macdonald, who is married with teenage children. She puts everyone else's needs above her own. She goes through the motions, but deep down she is unhappy with the way her life is going. I like that her husband is not portrayed in a bad light. He is simply someone who has certain beliefs about gender roles. It is made clear that he cares about Agnes.
A jigsaw puzzle Agnes receives on her birthday is the turning point in her life. It brings Robert, played by Irrfan Khan, into her life. This is the beginning of her journey through self-discovery. It isn't an easy journey. It's messy, but then again, some of the most beautiful things in life are just that. While I have not experienced all of the details in Agnes' story, I can relate to the journey of self-discovery.
I often feel that emotions can be conveyed in movies without the use of foul language. That is this movie's only flaw, in my opinion. I cringed every time I heard a curse word and I would have enjoyed it more without them. I do like the simplicity of the story line coupled with the complexity of Agnes' life and emotions. I like relatable movies that teach me a life lesson and/or leave me feeling hopeful at the end. "Puzzle" did just that for me. If you've been through the journey of self-discovery or you're experiencing it now, you'll be able to relate to this movie. And if you love fixing jigsaw puzzles as much as I do, that's a huge bonus. This is one of Irrfan Khan's lesser known movies. If you haven't seen "Puzzle", I recommend it.
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