Puzzle

Living in provincial Connecticut, married to an auto mechanic with two grown sons, Agnes resembles a church mouse, suppressing her own aspirations in order to maintain an ordered household. On the surface, she appears to be a devoted wife and mother, but timidity and low self-esteem have disconnected her from family, friends and herself. A jigsaw puzzle birthday gift leads to Agnes learning she possesses a hidden talent for piecing together these games of fragmented images - and this discovery opens the door to new experiences which force her to question how she's living her life.

Agnes' journey doesn't follow a smooth or conventional path as she struggles to liberate herself from self-inflicted shackles as well as those imposed by others. Kelly McDonald shows her usual excellence, range and subtlety in the lead role, with the script and direction complementing her talents nicely. Although the story's action takes place on a small stage, the characters' are confronted with major issues and upheavals before Agnes is able to figure out what she really wants, and begin the process of realizing it.

Just a decent piece of poetry for all ordinary people who dared to make extaordinary choices even once in a lifetime. And unlike the puzzles you manage to finish, you got no control of every of your days as life itself, the hardest of all puzzles it is and will be. Real, emotional, cinematography.

Ah, to wake up one morning after just celebrating one's own birthday and to ask yourself the proverbial question "what have I done with my life?" Well that is exactly what our lead actress Kelly Macdonald does as she plays the wife/mother named Agnes and starts fervently putting the matching pieces together of the new puzzle gifted to her at last nights birthday celebration.

Agnes begins to wonder about her own accomplishments these past 20 plus years of blissful marriage and motherhood to two young men/sons. Agnes finds she is torn between her faithful yet androcentric auto mechanic husband Louie (David Denman), and the new man in her life, (the recently seperated form his own wife) Robert (Irrfan Khan) who she met by accident while purchasing a new puzzle. Robert opens up Agnes's mind to the vast possibilities that still await her in the midst of jointly yet secretively working on new puzzles each week in an effort to compete at world puzzle competitions.

This film is about family dynamics, a mother/woman's awakening, and new beginnings. I do believe that there is a percentage of our population that find their true calling much later in life and although our film heroine Agnes, has led a decent life raising two sons and caring for her husband Louie, Agnes realizes there is more to life than just getting by each day in servitude to her three men.

Both Mrs. Shullivan and I enjoyed this dramatic film, just as we enjoy completing a 1,000 piece puzzle from time to time. I just hope Mrs. Shullivan doesn't feel the urge as Agnes did and start looking on-line for a new puzzle partner.

I give Puzzle a decent 7 out of 10 IMDB rating.

Or maybe you're all just very young... the movie didn't cover ground that hasn't been covered before, granted. but that's true of most movies at this point in our species's history. so it comes down to the way it's told. and this one is told sparingly and, at times, poetically and funny. lots of it is bittersweet. and the ending will probably prove unsatisfying to many. but this, all told, is VERY good storytelling. deceptively simple, but rich in substance. and lots is being said without any dialogue. it's an 'art film'. parts reminding me of a hopper painting. obviously not for everyone. it's simple. but it's not FOR the simple...

To define it as a beautiful film seems enough. Without any explanation. Because it is the perfect film about loneliness, family, passion and resurrection of be alive. Because it is defined by splendid acting, great story, superb cinematography. It is one of films who you can fall in love with . A motif - Kelly Macdonald giving one of her best roles. Or the chemistry between her and Irfan Khan. Or just few scenes , absolutely magical. A film about loneliness and freedom. A magnificent one.