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Willem Dafoe Rediscovers Lost Poet Genius
4 Aug
Summary
- A retired postal worker, Ed Saxberger, is rediscovered as a talented poet.
- A young group, the Enthusiasm Society, aims to revive his forgotten work.
- The film explores themes of artistic rediscovery and valuing past creativity.
"Late Fame," directed by Kent Jones and written by Samy Burch, reimagines an 1890s novella for contemporary New York. The film centers on Ed Saxberger, portrayed by Willem Dafoe, who spent 37 years as a postal worker after a brief period in the late 1970s as a published poet. His hidden talent is unearthed by Meyers, the leader of the Enthusiasm Society, a group of young intellectuals who reject technology in favor of art and poetry.
Initially resistant, Saxberger is drawn into the Society's orbit, finding a kindred spirit in Gloria, a flamboyant actress played by Greta Lee. The Society plans a performance to showcase Saxberger's rediscovered poetry. The film is lauded for its splendid cast, including Dafoe's nuanced performance and Lee's captivating portrayal of Gloria, highlighting themes of artistic rebirth and the pursuit of recognition.
