PROBLEMISTA, written and directed by Julio Torres, is one of the funniest and most impressive films of the year. Torres stars as Alejandro, an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, who must secure a job to stay in the U.S. He ends up working for Elizabeth, an eccentric (the word eccentric only begins to describe it) artist’s wife played by Tilda Swinton. Their mission is to curate an exhibit of paintings created by Elizabeth’s cryogenically frozen husband, leading to a BROAD CITY-esque misadventure.
The movie is bolstered by Torres’ portrayal of Alejandro — awkward yet endearing and intelligent yet goofy making him incredibly relatable and lovable. On the flip side, Swinton’s performance is similarly nuanced; she embodies a character who is incredibly captivating and charismatic but also a realistic, complex antagonist. Elizabeth’s charm coupled with her unreasonableness make her a “hydra” – resolve one issue and she creates two more. Rounding out the cast are RZA as Elizabeth’s artist husband, Greta Lee as Elizabeth’s former assistant, and James Scully as the best nepo-baby caricature I’ve seen on screen.
The film masterfully balances realism with surreal elements, resulting in an almost borderline fantasy. One scene in particular really stands out to me – a visual metaphor of the frustratingly impossible bureaucracy of the visa process. Alejandro tries to access a locked room, but the key lies within the room itself. He tries to access the room through a vent – which leads him to a different locked room, trapping him in an infinite labyrinth of locked doors reminiscent of an M.C. Escher illustration.
Even though PROBLEMISTA deals with pretty heavy themes, it still manages to be very, very funny. The casting is perfect and Torres’ unique visual and storytelling style absolutely shines. I’m so excited to see what he will create next.
PROBLEMISTA is playing at select theaters or is available to rent or buy wherever you get your movies.
