‘Problemista’ Trailer: Julio Torres’ Surreal Comedy Features Tilda Swinton As An Art-World Misfit

You’ll be wanting to keep an eye on Julio Torres, who is primed to be a huge star. The writer/director/actor who wrote for SNL and created HBO series Los Espookys had no trouble attracting A24 and Tilda Swinton to his feature directorial debut, Problemista, which had its world premiere at SXSW to glowing reviews.

The semiautobiographical comedy stars Torres as an aspiring toy designer from El Salavador, struggling to make it in New York City. With time on his work visa running out, he lands a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast and it becomes his last hope to survive the U.S. immigration system.

With Torres playing himself and Swinton as Elizabeth the art world misfit, the rest of the cast consists of RZA, Catalina Saavedra, Larry Owens, Greta Lee, Kelly McCormack, and Isabella Rossellini. Not only that, but Emma Stone and Dave McCrary are aboard as producers, showing their faith in Torres and his story.

A24 will open Problemista into theaters on August 4th.

Alejandro is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. As time on his work visa runs out, a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast becomes his only hope to stay in the country and realize his dream. From writer/director, Julio Torres comes a surreal adventure through the equally treacherous worlds of New York City and the U.S. Immigration system.

 

Travis Hopson
Travis Hopson has been reviewing movies before he even knew there was such a thing. Having grown up on a combination of bad '80s movies, pro wrestling, comic books, and hip-hop, Travis is uniquely positioned to geek out on just about everything under the sun. A vampire who walks during the day and refuses to sleep, Travis is the co-creator and lead writer for Punch Drunk Critics. He is also a contributor to Good Morning Washington, WBAL Morning News, and WETA Around Town. In the five minutes a day he's not working, Travis is also a voice actor, podcaster, and Twitch gamer. Travis is a voting member of the Critics Choice Association (CCA), Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA), and Late Night programmer for the Lakefront Film Festival.