PROBLEMISTA

If you’re at all familiar with the work of Julio Torres, then Problemista’s bizarreness will come as no surprise. Los Espookys, the series he co-created and starred in, was a fanciful hangout with a heavy dose of the macabre. This opportunity came about thanks to his instantly recognizable work on SNL, where his off-kilter view of the world manifested in skits like Wells for Boys, which envisioned a toy for thoughtful, probably gay boys. Given this history, it’s no wonder his first foray into film writing and directing is a singular vision. Nothing that comes from him is ordinary.

Torres stars as Alejandro, an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador in desperate need of a work visa to stay in the US. He’s a gentle guy with a hesitant walk. The only thing keeping him from being eaten alive by New York City is his unwavering dream, which was instilled in him by his optimistic but fretting mother. Right when everything is about to fall apart for Alejandro he gets caught up in the whirlwind that is Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton). She’s brash, loud, often wrong, and deeply in love with her cryogenically frozen husband. She recruits Alejandro to help her organize, exhibit, and sell her husband’s art. In exchange, she might sponsor his work visa, or she might send his life spiraling further out of control.

Problemista is a comedy with a deep heart and a fantasy about hard truths. The concoction is chaotic, messy, and thrilling, a jolt into the often uninspiring cinema landscape. That it isn’t perfectly even isn’t a fault. It’s an expected feature for a story that breaks from reality and convention so often.

The great joy of Torres’ work is always in the unexpected. Sure, there are lots of people out there critiquing the American dream, but few are doing it with such imaginative bite. I’m lucky enough to know nothing about immigration hurdles. Torres explains the labyrinthine process succinctly by framing it as a maze of offices, with each room accessed by anything but a door. It catches him in an endless loop, and instantly I understood the madness and humor of the bureaucracy.

Others may build a whole movie around this one experience. Torres, though, has a much broader view of the world. Problemista is a semi-autobiographical tale, yes, but he understands that his journey is only part of what he endured. Around him, crowded in close, are other tragedies, struggles, and silver platters, and he weaves among them. 

One of the more pointed observations comes from these glancing encounters. As Alejandro sits in the waiting room of his immigration lawyer, other people’s visas expire. When they do, the people simply disappear. Whether they’re sitting patiently in a chair or begging in desperation, they fade, one after the other. Alejandro never speaks to them, but their presence (and sudden absence) brings not just peril to his journey but bitterness to his successes. Even if he scrapes by, others don’t. Individual success is not proof that the system works, this detail stresses. The system is broken, even if Alejandro manages to stay and achieve his dream.

The biggest expansion, of course, is Elizabeth, who brings Alejandro to the edges of New York’s art world. She’s an oddity among the refined people she works with (Torres rarely lingers on regular people), and much of the film’s comedy comes from her hard-headed, oblivious antics. Swinton eats up the part, and Torres proves a worthy minion. The pair’s styles were made for each other, and it’s a delight to see them bounce off each other so effortlessly.

Torres is the star, though, even if Swinton is the bigger name. He’s just as adept at the frustration and fear in Alejandro as he is lining up the perfectly timed joke, but you can tell he’s bitten off a lot here. His script could use some smoothing out, particularly winds to a close. It gets to some worthy poignancy, but it would’ve been less awkward if it didn’t require a whole coda to be tacked on.

But for every bump in the road, there’s an inventive and welcome swerve. Torres didn’t set out to make something you’ve seen before, so he peppers Problemista with asides and flights of fancy few would dare try. The vast majority of them land either a big laugh or a sickening reality. In doing so, he explores truths you probably know, but he makes sure you won’t forget them.

Release: Available now in theaters
Director: Julio Torres
Writers: Julio Torres
Cast: Julio Torres, Tilda Swinton, RZA, Isabella Rossellini