Giallogy: Puzzle

At first glance, Puzzle, or L’uomo senza memoria (The Man Without a Memory) appears to center on an amnesiac man’s (Luc Merenda) quest to unlock a past that is now a mystery to him. In actuality, director Duccio Tessari’s 1974 giallo is just as much, if not more, concerned with how the amnesiac’s slowly unfolding, and sordid, past affects his estranged wife, Sara.

Part of what makes Sara such a focal point is that she’s played by the drop-dead gorgeous Senta Berger—whose flawless jawline and cheekbones could cut glass—in a marvelous performance. Berger is a perfect giallo heroine, kind and good hearted, inquisitive and intelligent, glamorous and—wait, did I mention staggeringly gorgeous? Oh, yes, I did. But it’s worth repeating because you simply can’t take your eyes off her in Puzzle.

Merenda is a bit of a snooze as the husband, so Berber’s expressive eyes and magnetic screen presence are particularly welcome. As it stands, the film is a terrifically effective, slow-burn story, all leading to a totally bonkers ending with Berger wielding a chainsaw (!) against a murderer. Is it common in Italy to leave a chainsaw on the kitchen table, right next to the bread and the spaghetti?!? Well, this is a thing that happens in Puzzle, and it’s absolutely glorious. Puzzle is most definitely one of my favorite giallo films.