Puzzle (2009) (Rialto Collection) (DVD)

Puzzle tells the story of Maria del Carmen, a woman who devotes herself to her husband and grown-up children, but whose family somewhat takes her for granted. Her routine life takes a complete turn when, on her fiftieth birthday, she receives a puzzle as a gift. Maria del Carmen quickly discovers that she has a talent to piece puzzles together, quickly and efficiently. Without letting her family know, she answers an ad requesting a partner to participate in an important tournament. Her new ambition becomes winning the national round in order to represent Argentina, in a world contest which will take place in Germany. The first film written and directed by Natalia Smirnoff, Puzzle premiered at Berlin Film Festival and has been praised for its nuanced approach to a character that slowly but assuredly becomes memorable. An impeccably restrained Maria Onetto shines in a role that confirms her stature in contemporary Latin American cinema.