Distribution Studio: A24 Director: Julio Torres

So, Juilo Torres the actor, Juilo Torres the writer, and Juilo Torres the director all walk into a bar…and the result is the sharp-witted and moving Problemista. Julio Torres has been an actor, comedian, and writer for upwards of a decade and is maybe most popularly known for co-creating and starring in the show Los Espookys. Problemista is the first time he’s both writing and directing a movie himself.

Based on the trailers and plot description, Problemista might only seem like a quirky and absurdist comedy, but Torres has a lot more on his mind. He’s interested in tackling the American immigration system. Torres plays Alejandro, a creative and aspiring toy designer who moved to the United States to apply for a dream job at Hasbro. Why did he move from El Salvador to New York City? Because the application only allowed applicants to be in the United States and its territories. As he awaits a response from Hasbro, he gets fired from his cryogenic freezing job and loses his work visa, which he needs to legally remain in the U.S. His hourglass is running out as he only has 30 days to find a new visa sponsor.

When Elizabeth, played by the always incredible Tilda Swinton, enters Alejandro’s world, Problemista takes off. There are heaps of reasons why Torres’ directorial debut works so well, but the comedic skillset of Torres and Swinton are the biggest sticking points. Alejandro is optimistic and shy and often keeps to himself when he knows he shouldn’t. Elizabeth is erratic and loud and always makes it known when she has a problem. But they share two very important things: the ability to dream and the inability to use FileMaker Pro. Because the two both have life-altering needs, Alejandro needs to find a visa sponsor and Elizabeth needs to find her cryo-frozen husband’s lost paintings and put on an art show in his honor, they are a perfect match.

Torres’ Alejandro doesn’t necessarily have the best skillset to fill the role of Elizabeth’s helper on her journey to gather paintings, but his earnestness and availability are all she truly needs. Torres brings so much humanity and understanding to this character, traits that are undoubtedly some he displays in his real life. It also should be understood that while Torres didn’t apply to Hasbro outside of the film, we are still seeing a version of his authentic story on the screen. He jumped through hoops to stay in the country the same way many others do. As he states in his interview with NPR, Torres had personal experience with “all the Catch-22s of the immigration system.”

Problemista flourishes when Torres and Swinton are engaged in back-and-forth squabbling. Elizabeth has a hilarious aversion to nearly all technology, especially when it doesn’t function exactly as expected. “Speak to a human” is often yelled when she’s trying to speak to customer service because one of her apps or phone isn’t behaving. Of course, there’s always a very simple fix. While Alejandro does his best to help, it’s met with annoyance. Torres’ sheepishness and manner of speaking as a foil to Elizabeth’s way of handling things is always incredibly funny.

The hilarity isn’t confined to those scenarios. Torres is first and foremost a comedy writer, and he’s able to fully show off his skills because he’s now the one steering the entire ship. His tendency to lean towards the absurd and avant-garde is where some moviegoers might be apprehensive. But that’s kind of the point. Torres didn’t set out to make something that everybody would find humorous and connect to, he made something he fully cares about and something he finds legitimately funny. And if it finds its audience, then that’s a huge win.

Outside of the main throughline with Elizabeth and Alejandro, Torres gives us skit-like cutaways to scenarios that are rattling around in his mind. Craigslist is personified as a fairy godmother-like person, his one-of-a-kind toy ideas are presented to us like QVC items, and discussions with Elizabeth turn into life-or-death scenarios. While I found myself finding these moments to be hysterical, it’s clear not everybody will.

Torres pulls off an impressive magic trick by creating something that is as wholesome and caring as it is eccentric. Underneath the craziness are two main characters who truly understand the passion and love that the other holds. Elizabeth knows where Alejandro’s heart lies, and Alejandro knows where Elizabeth’s lies. With no condescension from either to be found, our characters’ journeys are never displayed in a way that makes them feel silly. There’s only the appreciation of each other’s humanity while they both navigate the absurdity of it all, whether it’s the ridiculous New York City art scene or the soul-crushing American immigration system.

8.9/10

Written by: Stefano Todaro