Late Fame

Late Fame

For decades, Ed Saxberger (Willem Dafoe) has lived a quiet life working at a New York City post office, his brief career as a poet a distant memory. In the late 1970s, he published a collection of poetry that attracted little attention, and he has long since stopped thinking of himself as a writer. That changes when Meyers (Edmund Donovan), an enthusiastic young admirer, appears at his doorstep, convinced he’s discovered a forgotten literary genius.

Drawn into a circle of aspiring young writers and artists known as the Enthusiasm Society, Ed finds himself enjoying the recognition that eluded him in his youth. Among his new companions is Gloria (Greta Lee, Past Lives, NBFF23), an eccentric actress and singer whose captivating presence further draws him into the group’s bohemian world. But as the young artists encourage Ed to revisit his poetry, he begins to question whether their admiration is genuine or simply part of their romanticized vision of New York’s artistic past.

Directed by Kent Jones (Diane) and written by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Samy Burch (May December), Late Fame is adapted from a novella by Austrian writer Arthur Schnitzler. Set against the backdrop of contemporary Manhattan, this thoughtful, bittersweet drama explores artistic ambition, the fleeting nature of recognition, and the complicated relationship between creativity and fame. Anchored by performances from Dafoe and Lee, the film offers a witty and poignant reflection on the possibility of rediscovering oneself later in life.