Home / Arts and Entertainment / Dafoe's Late Fame: A Poet's Reckoning
Dafoe's Late Fame: A Poet's Reckoning
25 Jun
Summary
- Willem Dafoe plays a former poet working at a post office.
- Young admirers seek to revive the poet's lost genius.
- The film explores the authenticity of newfound fame and admiration.
Willem Dafoe stars as Ed Saxberger, a once-celebrated post-Beat-era poet in New York City, now working at the post office. His quiet life is disrupted when a group of twenty-somethings, calling themselves the Enthusiasm Society, seeks to revive his lost genius. This society aims to elevate their own literary ambitions by associating with Saxberger.
Saxberger finds himself drawn into this circle of admirers, especially by the captivating presence of Gloria, the group's 'tragic heroine.' He begins to question the sincerity of this rediscovery and the intoxicating attention he receives. The film, directed by Kent Jones, explores themes of authenticity and the nature of fame.
"Late Fame," written by Samy Burch, is set to be released by Magnolia Pictures starting in August 2026. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it garnered praise for its hard-earned wisdom and Dafoe's immersive performance. The story, inspired by Arthur Schnitzler, shifts the setting from Vienna to lower Manhattan.
