Ed Saxberger (Willem Dafoe), a long-forgotten New York poet, leads a quiet life working at the post office until an eager, flattering young admirer (Edmund Donovan) appears on his doorstep. Suddenly beckoned into a circle of twentysomething devotees who anoint him as a rediscovered genius, Saxberger finds himself intoxicated by the attention—and by the alluring presence of Gloria (Greta Lee), the group’s “tragic heroine.” As he navigates this newfound fame, he must gradually reckon with the authenticity of his poetic circle and the reality of his own legacy. LATE FAME is a witty and contemplative look at a lost idea of downtown New York, capturing a poignant portrait of artistic survival and the complicated nature of being seen.
“Willem Dafoe is low-key and magnificent” — The Hollywood Reporter