Sony Pictures Classics has paid $5 million for world rights to director Marc Turtletaub’s debut feature “Puzzle,” a film set in the world of competitive jigsaw puzzling that debuted Tuesday at the Sundance Film Festival.
Kelly Macdonald (“No Country for Old Men,” “Boardwalk Empire”) turns in a rare lead performance as a bored suburban housewife who discovers a passion for jigsaw puzzles that leads her to the world of competitions.
Her character, Agnes, is soon swapping household chores for secretive train rides to New York City, where her mentor (Irrfan Khan) helps her unlock a desire to finally march to the beat of her own drum for the first time in her life.
David Denman, Bubba Weiler, Austin Abrams and Liv Hewson also star in the film. Oren Moverman wrote the script.
“Puzzle” is the feature directing debut for Turtletaub, a veteran producer whose credits include “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Everything Is Illuminated” and “Loving.”
He also produced along with Wren Arthur, Guy Stodel and Peter Saraf.
ICM Partners handled the deal.