Problemista – A Convoluted Exploration of the American Dream

Salvadoran comedian Julio Torres has carved out a niche for himself within the realm of comedy, successfully blending surrealism, quirky humour and a healthy dose of authenticity. Torres was a writer on SNL, before writing, producing and starring in his own Spanish language HBO series, Los Espookys. He has not let the industry trap him in one lane, and has proven himself to be an extremely versatile and ambitious artist. Problemista marks Torres’ first foray into filmmaking, as he directed, wrote, produced and stars in the film. Distributed by A24, the film has attracted some major names such as Emma Stone (in a producing role) and Tilda Swinton, Greta Lee, Isabella Rossellini, and RZA, who also star.

Problemista stars Torres as Alejandro, an aspiring toymaker who leaves his sheltered life in El Salvador and moves to New York City in hopes of working for Hasbro. When his numerous applications fail to garner the attention of the world class toy company, Alejandro lands an internship at a laboratory that specializes in freezing and preserving the bodies of individuals who want to live in the future. When an accident causes Alejandro to be immediately laid off, he meets Elizabeth (Swinton), a short-tempted and eccentric art critic whose husband froze himself. In attempt to have her sponsor his visa so he can continue trying to follow his dreams of becoming a toy maker, Alejandro decides to become Elizabeth’s assistant and help her curate an art exhibit with her husband’s work in order to raise money to keep his body frozen. From there, the two form a complicated and unlikely friendship.

It’s difficult to fault a film as earnest and good natured as this was. Audiences have seen countless other films over the years that explore the pursuit for the American dream through the lens of the immigrant experience. Problemista attempts to differentiate itself from the pack by taking anecdotes from Torres’ own experiences and and combining it with science fiction elements. Unfortunately, while it may contain many some interesting ideas, its execution leaves much to be desired. The film is simply an extremely convoluted mess that tries to pack far too much within its lean runtime. It is far too broad and tonally inconsistent to feel the emotional impact of Alejandro’s journey, and too small scale and grounded in reality to fully sell its ambitious science fiction elements.

In the end, the film is merely another classic case of a first time filmmaker over-directing while trying to establish their style. The film is jam-packed with quirky motifs and surrealist imagery which does not allow audiences any room to breathe. After every grounded scene that is attempting to convey emotion, Torres will throw in overly-stylized visuals and hyperactive editing to counteract it. The result is a truly exhausting film that steps on its own toes whenever it seems to be heading in an interesting direction.

While Torres’ direction had its flaws, his performance as Alejandro is certainly the film’s biggest strength. He brings a sense of authenticity to Alejandro, making his journey to achieve his dreams more compelling than it would have been on paper. Meanwhile, he has great chemistry with Swinton, who really hams it up and plays into Elizabeth’s eccentric persona.

Unfortunately, a few strong performances don’t entirely make up for the film’s messy script and over-stylized direction. Problemista has enough going for it to suggest that Torres has potential behind the directors chair, but it is far from the strongest showcase of his talents.

*still courtesy of VVS Films*

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Tristan French