Starring Kelly Macdonald, Marc Turtletaub’s Puzzle is a character study that plays like a period drama.  This would especially be the case if it were not for the use of smartphones.

Agnes (Kelly Macdonald) is in her early 40s.  She’s not a woman who tends to leave her community.  Once Agnes gets a jigsaw puzzle as a birthday gift, it’s as if her entire world has changed.  She’s not just good at it but she soon finds herself at the level of being a jigsaw champion!  A rare trip into New York City to buy a puzzle leads Agnes to call Robert (Irrfan Khan) after seeing his ad for a puzzle partner.

This newfound change in Agnes’ life comes as a shock to her husband, Louie (David Denman), and sons Ziggy (Bubba Weiler) and Gabe (Austin Abrams).  Agnes lies about where she’s going every Monday and Wednesday so as to not blow her cover.  Every moment spent with Robert is a moment spent away from her family.  It’s through this experience that Agnes soon learns to stand up for herself.

Oren Moverman and Polly Mann base their script on 2009’s Rompecabezas.

DIRECTOR:  Marc Turtletaub
SCREENWRITER:  Oren Moverman and Polly Mann
CAST:  Kelly Macdonald, Irrfan Khan, David Denman, Bubba Weiler, Austin Abrams, Liv Hewson

An official selection of the 2018 Chicago Critics Film Festival, Puzzle held its world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in the Premieres program.  Sony Pictures Classics will release Puzzle on July 13, 2018 with theatrical expansion to follow.