'Problemista' A Review

Problemista is a surrealist cringe comedy about Alejandro(Julio Torres, also written and directed by) a El Salvadoran immigrant to New York City an aspiring ironic-toy designer. When faced with a visa problem he befriends and begins to work as a personal assistant for Elizabeth(Tilda Swinton) a mentally unstable art critic and champion level Karen.

Torres Freshman film effort shows a lot of imagination, a lot of ambition, and a decent amount of visual flair and actuality, his effort as the lead is servicable but not as strong as his other efforts in the film. His characterization verges on a Napoleon Dynamite impersonation. Not overtly but in mannerism and in indicating a kind of vague intelligence, another influence in regards to the performance seems also to be Peter Sellers' Chance in Being There. This is not to say its bad but to simply say it doesn't come across as particularly original. Which is in stark contrast to Swinton's Elizabeth which, even if unpleasant as a character most of the time, is absolutely captivating to watch. Frequently Swinton's is cast as unknowable or distant or authoritative, its rare she gets a chance to be completely human(the Michael Clayton type roles for her are not frequent). Here she takes full advantage and gives a performance of singular quality. Outside the two of them the supporting cast is inconsequential, not in there talent but in their screentime and necessity to the narrative.

From a design standpoint Torres, out of the gate, has style, has point of view. Like his former SNL co-worker Kyle Mooney before him with Brigsby Bear, there is a clear sense of darkness and whimsy. A magical realism injected both in some of the emotional beats but in dream or representation sequences which are lovely to see. There is not one way to do a film although in the increasing homogenization of the studios most major releases follow the same screenwriting parameters, this does not. It has identity. 

One can question how effective the film is and what, actually, is it trying to say. Those questions are more murky here, perhaps even off putting. There is a lot in the film, like many freshman features, it is overstuffed. With visuals and with ideas. But most of them are successful. The relationship between Alejandro and Elizabeth, the themes explored, are interesting. But the resolution of which leaves an odd, bitter, one imagines unintended, taste.

An intriguing new work from a promising talent.

Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.

See It.