A24 just dropped the first trailer for Julio Torres’s new film Problemista. And if this first look is any indication, it’s going to follow in the footsteps of this studio’s other great films, which includes Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Whale.
Problemista tells the story of Alejandro, played by Torres. He’s an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador who needs a sponsor for his work visa to stay in New York. Desperate, Alejandro accepts work with Elizabeth, played by Tilda Swinton. She’s almost unrecognizable with her bright red hair and a personality that was described by Switon as a “black hole” no person searching for a work visa wants to trip into. And working for Elizabeth shifts Alejandro’s world on his axis as those around him question the lengths he’s willing to go to stay in the U.S.
Directed and written by Torres, you can see his unique brand of humor, geared towards the quirky and absurd as people disappear out of thin air when their hopes are dashed or when an elaborate maze of immigration department offices appears. Together it promises a surrealist comedy on the process of immigration and a thoughtful reflection on who the American dream is for.
Julio Torres is mostly known for his work as a writer on Saturday Night Live and as a co-creator of the beloved HBO comedy show Los Espookys. The cast for Problemista also includes RZA (Poker Face), who plays Elizabeth’s husband Bobby, Catalina Saavedra (The Maid), Larry Owens (Abbott Elementary), Greta Lee (Past Lives), and Isabella Rossellini (Death Becomes Her) as the narrator.
Problemista is only available in theaters on August 4, 2023.