Willem Dafoe stars as an NYC Postal Worker whose writing brings him notoriety in art circles in the character study by director Kent Jones, Late Fame.
Late Fame is a low-key character study from director Kent Jones. A showcase for the ever-brilliant Willem Dafoe.
Ed Saxberger (Dafoe) spends his days content as a mailman in New York City. That is until isn’t until a group of young writers (led by Edmund Donovan) tell him of their finding of his work and its esteem. It gives the long-forgotten poet a taste of what it was once like being a part of youthful artist exuberance. Though Saxberger finds this new invigoration, no matter how small, more complex than he realized.
Adapted by Samy Burch based on the novella by Arthur Schnitzler of the same name, there is something beautifully cyclical about Jones’ second narrative film. The film is a beautifully observed look at youthful artistry. Keenly observed but never overly critical of those artists and collectives that never can stay together for longer than a blink of an eye. By focusing on Dafoe’s Saxberger there is less melodrama and pontificating by the youth. Characters are more palatable and less the dilettantes they are clearly trying to hide from being.
At 71, Willem Dafoe continues to show the range that few of his contemporaries or even actors half his age indulge in. Late Fame seems to be a companion performance to the equally astute Tommaso. Though both films have very different things to say about aging artists and aging in general. Working with Jones finds Dafoe in a subtle, almost contemplative mode. There’s something romantic about the performance. Saxberger finds everything amusing, though he’s not detached enough not to be hurt by things. Even the way that we see Dafoe approach the work in the post office has a beauty to it that recalls Kōji Yakusho’s wonderful work in Wim Wenders masterpiece Perfect Days.
Late Fame is a warm look at late life and artistic youth in New York without the kind of snark or sarcasm we’re used to.
Late Fame opens in theaters in New York on August 7, 2026, and in Los Angeles on August 14, 2026 — additional cities to follow.
Willem Dafoe stars as an NYC Postal Worker whose writing brings him notoriety in art circles in the character study by director Kent Jones, Late Fame.
Late Fame is a low-key character study from director Kent Jones. A showcase for the ever-brilliant Willem Dafoe.
Ed Saxberger (Dafoe) spends his days content as a mailman in New York City. That is until isn’t until a group of young writers (led by Edmund Donovan) tell him of their finding of his work and its esteem. It gives the long-forgotten poet a taste of what it was once like being a part of youthful artist exuberance. Though Saxberger finds this new invigoration, no matter how small, more complex than he realized.
Adapted by Samy Burch based on the novella by Arthur Schnitzler of the same name, there is something beautifully cyclical about Jones’ second narrative film. The film is a beautifully observed look at youthful artistry. Keenly observed but never overly critical of those artists and collectives that never can stay together for longer than a blink of an eye. By focusing on Dafoe’s Saxberger there is less melodrama and pontificating by the youth. Characters are more palatable and less the dilettantes they are clearly trying to hide from being.
At 71, Willem Dafoe continues to show the range that few of his contemporaries or even actors half his age indulge in. Late Fame seems to be a companion performance to the equally astute Tommaso. Though both films have very different things to say about aging artists and aging in general. Working with Jones finds Dafoe in a subtle, almost contemplative mode. There’s something romantic about the performance. Saxberger finds everything amusing, though he’s not detached enough not to be hurt by things. Even the way that we see Dafoe approach the work in the post office has a beauty to it that recalls Kōji Yakusho’s wonderful work in Wim Wenders masterpiece Perfect Days.
Late Fame is a warm look at late life and artistic youth in New York without the kind of snark or sarcasm we’re used to.
Late Fame opens in theaters in New York on August 7, 2026, and in Los Angeles on August 14, 2026 — additional cities to follow.
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