‘Late Fame’ Review: Lost Poet, Found Again Willem Dafoe stars as Ed Saxberger, a former poet who once enjoyed a fleeting moment of recognition in the 1970s before fading into obscurity. The film follows his life decades later, as he works at the post office and lives a quiet existence in New York City. His past as a poet, marked by a book titled Way Past Go published in 1979, earned him brief fame and a mention in the Village Voice, but his creative ambitions eventually waned. Now in his 60s, Ed finds himself drawn to a group of young artists who rekindle his connection to the literary world. The story centers on Wilson Meyers, a recent graduate of New York University who discovers Ed’s poetry book while browsing a bookstore. Intrigued by the poet’s past, Meyers tracks him down to introduce him to his circle of friends, a collective of aspiring writers and thinkers known as “The Enthusiasm Society.” The group, which calls itself a counter to the “delusional trappings of late-stage capitalism,” gathers at a café on LaGuardia Place, sipping sloe gin fizzes and espresso. Their ideals include resisting the monetization of culture and rejecting the “coarsening of culture” through media and consumerism. Ed, initially skeptical of their fervor, becomes intrigued by their passion and the energy they bring to their shared vision. He is particularly drawn to Gloria, an actress and singer who embodies the bohemian spirit of the group. Her presence and the camaraderie of the ensemble gradually pull Ed back into the world of creativity. Despite his years of disillusionment, he agrees to write a new poem for a reading the group plans to host. This act symbolizes a tentative reconciliation with his past and a reconnection with the artistic community that once defined his youth.#new_york_city #willem_dafoe #ed_saxberger #the_enthusiasm_society #gloria
