There’s always something alluring, and maybe a little dangerous, about an artist being “rediscovered” long after the world has moved on. That’s the setup for “Late Fame,” the new film from Kent Jones, starring Willem Dafoe, Greta Lee, and Edmund Donovan.
Magnolia Pictures will release the film in New York on August 7, followed by Los Angeles on August 14, with additional cities to follow.
Directed by Jones, the critic-turned-filmmaker behind “Diane” and the documentary “Hitchcock/Truffaut,” and written by Samy Burch, the Oscar-nominated writer of “May December,” “Late Fame” adapts Arthur Schnitzler’s novella of the same name and reimagines its story for contemporary New York.
Dafoe stars as Ed Saxberger, a once-celebrated New York poet whose work has largely faded from memory. But when an eccentric group of young creatives discovers his forgotten writing, their fascination gives him an unexpected second wind. As Ed is drawn into their world, his renewed artistic passion becomes entangled with questions of ego, authenticity, and the beguiling presence of Gloria, an actress played by Lee.
The film premiered as a Main Slate selection at the 63rd New York Film Festival, where it was described as a witty and introspective look at literary ambition, artistic vanity, and a lost vision of downtown New York.
“Late Fame” opens in New York on August 7 and in Los Angeles on August 14, with additional cities to follow. Watch the trailer below.
