Did I think I would watch a movie in which jigsaw puzzle competition contestants make fun of other contestants who are so amateur that they bring snacks to the event? No, but I’m super glad I did. I loved Wicker Kittens; it’s an adorable documentary about competitive puzzle nerds. They don’t make fun of others with malice; it’s all in jest. These people are adorable nerds who love this hobby of theirs, and I had a blast watching them get excited about puzzles.
Wicket Kittens is like getting to know a good friend’s family and learning about their love for hobbies you didn’t know anyone cared about. Their passion is extremely charming.
This movie has a Jigsaw Puzzle Historian. Her license plate says, “Puzzle.” One of the competitors is an Iowa state legislator! Two characters complain together that there can be variation among puzzle cuts. When a puzzle is made, it starts as one large piece cardboard (or other material) with a design on it (like a famous painting), and then a machine literally cuts it into puzzle pieces. In some cases, puzzles are cut uniquely each time as the cutting machine is rotated. As a result, our very serious jigsaw puzzlers complained that they could get a harder cut at the competition and be at a disadvantage. These people LOVE jigsaw puzzles and they’re very serious about this competition. I really appreciated that these characters aren’t silly caricatures, they’re just real. I know that sounds oddly obvious when discussing a documentary, but a lot of characters in documentaries put on a face or are pigeonholed into their particularly extraordinary characteristic. Wicker Kittens works because the characters feel like real people.
The final showdown is a slight letdown and the music can feel a little obvious at parts, but overall this is an excellent documentary. Short and sweet at 52 minutes, I highly recommend it if you’re looking for some lighter fare at IFF Boston or later in the year in theaters or on demand (fingers crossed for distribution).
Grade: A-
Wicker Kittens screens at 7pm on Thursday, 4/24 and 9:30pm on Monday, 4/28 at the Somerville Theatre. More information and tickets can be found here at the IFF Boston website.
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