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Aging Poet Embraces Artistic Comeback in "Late Fame"
30 Aug
Summary
- Poet Eduard Saxberger's forgotten work rediscovered by young writers
- Saxberger, a civil servant, rejoins the artistic world after 30 years
- Satirical look at a group of pretentious young literary enthusiasts
In the summer of 2025, a forgotten poet named Eduard Saxberger is thrust back into the literary spotlight when a group of young, aspiring writers in New York City rediscover his slim collection of poetry, written and forgotten 30 years prior.
The leader of this "Enthusiasm Society," a young man named Meyers, introduces Saxberger to the group and encourages him to join their upcoming reading event. Flattered by their admiration, the aging Saxberger, who had long since abandoned his artistic dreams for a civil servant job, embraces the opportunity to reconnect with the creative world.
However, as Saxberger becomes immersed in the group's pretentious antics and affected snobbery, he begins to see the naivety and self-deluded folly of the Enthusiasm Society. They erroneously believe that art simply appears, rather than being the product of hard work and dedication. Saxberger's disillusionment grows after a disappointing experience at the group's reading event.
Despite the film's nuanced characterizations early on, the final act sees the Enthusiasm Society devolving into snide hypocrisy, and the character of Gloria, a mysterious working actress, turning into a clichéd "troubled artist." Yet, the film's director, Kent Jones, infuses the story with a bittersweet melancholy and a hard-earned wisdom that elevates the adaptation beyond its flaws.
