Puzzle

[Duccio] Tessari handles the material with his usual flair and authority. The story is an intriguing one and Tessari does not rely on a lot of flashy gimmicks in order to make it work. Instead, he allows the material to speak for itself, going in for a more baroque stylistic angle when the situation calls for it, but generally avoiding an excess of artifice. The cinematography by Giulio Albonico is slick and stylish, while Gianni Ferrio contributes another excellent soundtrack. The film is also very well paced and holds one’s attention until the very end.

The initially languid pace, which allows for snippets of information about the male protagonist’s former life to be gradually revealed, might cause some to lose interest. But patience is rewarded by the gripping and bloody finale.