Puzzle

2009

1h 27m

Drama

List

77%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

An older housewife finds out she has an ability for solving puzzles.

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

It's both funny and touching that one of María's favorite puzzles is an enigmatic portrait of Nefertiti. With her own enigmatic allure, María is the queen of puzzlers.

Rated: B+

May 31, 2011

Full Review

Mark Jenkins

NPR

It's a modest journey, but a satisfying one.

May 27, 2011

Full Review

V.A. Musetto

New York Post

Will Maria leave Juan for Roberto? Like the rest of the movie, the answer is routine.

Rated: 2/4

May 27, 2011

Full Review

Nora Lee Mandel

Film-Forward.com

[I]ntimately puts together pieces of a middle-aged woman's liberation into a charmingly fresh whole. . .[with] the burgeoning glow of the quietly expressive Onetto.

Rated: 8/10

May 31, 2011

Full Review

Doris Toumarkine

Film Journal International

This utterly charming drama about a dutiful middle-class Argentinean mother and wife jolted out of her familial routine when bitten by the picture-puzzle bug is a triumph of execution over an unpromising logline.

May 27, 2011

Full Review

Harvey S. Karten

Compuserve

An perceptive look at an Argentinian housewife into a world of puzzles.

Rated: B

May 12, 2011

Full Review

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Bob L

While it's clear that Maria's pursuits offer a substantial and seductive break from her routine, it would have been gratifying to have gotten a more focused sense of her journey.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/26/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Netflix DVD 12/28/18 This was a really sweet story with an unexpected ending. Kelly McDonald gave a terrific performance as a housewife in a nowhere life who finally had her own dreams and ambitions and emotions awakened. A great way to spend 1:43 of your time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/29/18

Full Review

Audience Member

I loved this movie. The characters, the self discovery, the humor, the heartache. It’s a great movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/16/18

Full Review

Audience Member

The Argentine/French movie portrays movement of a 50-years-old housewife's mind. She handles domestic duties perfectly but feels something is missing and tries to fill in the missing piece. María performs the housewife nicely with Gabriel and supporting actors playing her families who are not aware of her empty feeling.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting movie about a house wife that discovers a new skill when she is already middle age and the changes that it would bring to her life. Great performance by María Onetto and interesting story by Natalia Smirmoff.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Frances H

A quiet little film, Puzzle marks the change in a 50 year old housewife who, after decades of being taken for granted by male chauvinist husband and two sons, finally and with quiet courage starts to stand up for herself when she discovers her uncanny ability to solve puzzles. Whether she will go all the way in her transformation and break with her old life entirely, or settle for a more modest change is the meat of this very interesting Argentinian movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/08/13

Full Review

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Natalia Smirnoff

Director

María Onetto

María del Carmen

Gabriel Goity

Juan

Arturo Goetz

Roberto

Henny Trayles

Actor

Nora Zinsky

Raquel

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Critics Consensus: The Hangover Part II Could Use Rehab

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Synopsis

An older housewife finds out she has an ability for solving puzzles.

Director: Natalia Smirnoff
Producer: Luis A. Sartor, Natalia Smirnoff, Caroline Dhainaut
Screenwriter: Natalia Smirnoff
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 2, 2019
Runtime: 1h 27m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)