American Dreams: ‘Problemista’ plus 6 more films about the queer immigrant experience
Problemista. Inspired by his own story moving from El Salvador to New York City, Torres imaginatively depicts the labyrinthine bureaucracy of the U.S.
immigration system that one must navigate in order to “exist” in this country to hilarious and provocative effect.In that sense, it’s a true American fairytale.
And, fittingly, Problmista just became available to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max) this past week—just in time for the 4th Of July holiday.
But Torres’ masterpiece is far from the only time the experiences of queer immigrants have been brought to the big screen. So, if you’re looking for a different way to celebrate what it truly means to be American, ring in your Independence Day with six more films that tell stories of the people who really make this country exceptional, from sea to shining sea.We’ve all heard our fair share of New York “fairytales,” but there’s never been one quite like the hilarious, whimsical, and thought-provoking ‘Problemista.’ The film’s uniqueness should come as no surprise, considering it’s the brainchild of Julio Torres, the writer-director-actor whose singular work includes ‘Los Espookys,’ comedy special ‘My Favorite Shapes,’ and some recent ‘SNL’ […]At its heart, the indie A Place To Be (or “En Algun Lugar”) is a romance, as two young Chicagoans fall in love over the course of a summer—even celebrating the 4th Of July together!
