Problemista
Film
DFS: Borders and Belonging

Problemista

April 04, 2026

Julio Torres writes, directs and stars in this surreal comedy about navigating the NYC art scene and the impossible US immigration system while managing-up the world's worst boss.

Problemista | Official Trailer HD | A24

 

Alejandro (Torres) 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 (Tilda Swinton) becomes his only hope to stay in the country and realize his dream. 

Torres is the creative genius behind some of SNL's most beloved sketches, "Wells for Boys," as well as stand-up specials My Favorite Shapes and Color Theory, and HBO's Fantasmas. Here he crafts a surreal adventure that successfully skewers both the New York City art scene and the impossibly Byzantine US Immigration system, finding comedy gold for both in the ridiculous-but-true details.

D: Julio Torres, US, 2024, 1h44m, Closed Captions

Programmed as part of the Dartmouth Film Society series "Borders and Belonging"

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Black Family Visual Arts Center
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