Sexual situation involving a first-time sex worker, who, after initial trepidation, seems to like (or at least not mind) the sexual transaction. Crotch rubbing. Implied genital stroking between two characters. Kiss. Themes of infidelity.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
The main character is a gay Salvadoran man (as is actor Julio Torres, who also wrote and directed the film) whose story illuminates the challenges of being an immigrant living and working in the U.S. When he's talking to his Salvadoran mother, they speak Spanish, which is subtitled in English for U.S. release. Other characters are diverse in terms of gender (including nonbinary), sexuality, age, race (Black, Latino, Asian, Middle Eastern), and body type.
While Elizabeth's "get your way by being unreasonable" example is somewhat iffy, the moral is perfect for older teens: The road to success has potholes and bumps, and navigating them makes us who we are. Being kind doesn't mean being a doormat: Advocate for yourself! Also explores what it means to pursue the modern American dream.
Positive Role Models
some
Alejandro is a kind, humble person who demonstrates perseverance, hard work, self-control, and respect for others (even when they don't deserve it). That said, like his difficult boss, he sometimes makes life harder than necessary for himself. And Elizabeth herself isn't just a "problemista," she's also a "Karen"—a derogatory term aimed at middle-aged White women. While that term is never used in the movie, it's felt, and Problemista perpetuates the stereotype.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Problemista is a fresh, offbeat, hilarious comedy from Julio Torres (creator and co-star of Los Espookys) that explores what it means to pursue the modern American dream. Torres' character, Alejandro, is a kind, quiet, young gay immigrant from El Salvador who gets fired from a dead-end job and ends up helping complicated art critic Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton) sell her husband's art. Through sharp comedic dialogue, the story offers insights into the cycle of poverty, the challenges faced by immigrants to the United States, and the shocking effectiveness of complaining. Characters are diverse in terms of gender, sexuality, age, race, and body type A first-time sex worker allows his genitals to be touched (below camera) and appears to like the experience. There's also crotch rubbing, kissing, and themes of infidelity, as well as smoking and drinking in social situations. A gun is fired during a comedic fantasy sequence, and language includes "s--tty," "f--king," and more. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Good movie but unnecessary, albeit limited, male sex scene
I give this movie 3 stars even though it is well written and acted because it includes unnecessary male prostitution. The main character is desperate for money to pay for his visa application and can only take under-the-table cash work he finds on Craig’s List. At one point he’s dead broke and agrees to take a job as a cleaning boy which he really knows will include male homosexual sexual acts. The movie could have alluded to this scene without being so obvious. They don’t actually show nudity but they do make it so obvious as to what’s going on that you’re surprised they didn’t show the nudity. The movie was actually a good premise but the inclusion of the obviousness of this scene was gratuitous and unnecessary.
I try to write a reviews that are worthy of the films that I see, whether good or bad. But this one seemed too slight, quirky and confusing to warrant a long review. Maybe it's just my sense of humor.
If you are a Sat Night Live fan, you will want to see this since Julio Torres is pretty cool.
It is the story of a wanna be toy designer from El Salvador who needs a co-signer for his visa so that he can stay in the US. He is very timid and polite, in contrast to his abrasive employer and art critic played by Tilda Swinton. She is truly a crazy woman, and together they are trying to get find gallery to exhibit her late husband’s “egg paintings”.
There is lots of satire about the art world and crazy narcissists who inhabit it, and clever traps about the the frustrations of the immigration system, but the film never goes beyond being cute. ( Not to say that this is for kids. The themes of the movie are all very adult, and the humor is akin to Saturday Night Live.
Julio Torres wrote the story and stars. HIs Salvadoran heritage and skill as a writer, comedian, and actor are on full display.
What's the Story?
In PROBLEMISTA, Alejandro (Julio Torres) dreams of being selected for the Hasbro toymaker talent incubator program, which requires applicants to live in the United States. When he's fired from his boring, dead-end job in New York, he faces deportation if he can't find a new employer to sponsor his visa. His only solution? Assisting complicated art critic Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton), who's strapped for cash and offers Alejandro a deal: If he helps her sell her husband's art, she'll both pay and sponsor him. The problem is: She's a problem, a malcontent for whom nothing is ever good enough.
With this wildly imaginative comedy, Torres offers a fresh approach to comedic storytelling. Problemista's dialogue zings, contrasting sharp-tongued Elizabeth with docile, try-hard Alejandro. The visual ingenuity with which Torres relays information to viewers while also showing us how Alejandro feels about that information—like when the online classified website Craigslist comes to life as an angel-demon—is a hard shake, waking us up to realize what moviemaking can be. While the fact that Elizabeth's success as a malcontent could be seen as promoting the iffy message of "get your way by being unreasonable" (the label "Karen" is never used, but it's felt), the true moral of the story is perfect for older teens: The road to success has potholes and bumps, and navigating them makes us who we are.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Problemista depicts sex work. Is it glamorized? Judged? How have portrayals of sex work changed in the media over the years?
What's the difference between complaining and self-advocating? Do you think Elizabeth's expressions of dissatisfaction would work in real life? What's the consequence of this kind of attitude in her private and professional life?
How would you describe the film's message? What examples can you share from your life about the challenges you faced in achieving a goal, and what did it teach you along the way?
Did you notice any positive representations in the film? Why is it important to tell a wide range of diverse stories?
MPAA explanation:
some language and sexual content
Last updated:
August 25, 2024
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By Tara McNamara
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