Subtle is an understatement. Avoids every remotely melodramatic trapping of the material, possibly some necessarily dramatic as well, and maybe some basic narrative concerns on top of that: a whole torso of torture scars and no talk of any hardship exemption, nor between les papier mates about pre-existing partners, one of whom all but vanishes without fanfare. But Bujold's minutely-controlled, quietly magnificent performance may well convince you that all that's left unsaid didn't need saying.