Un Poeta (EN)

In this raw and witty satire, down-and-out Colombian poet Oscar Restrepo struggles with alcoholism, an unresolved past and a difficult relationship with his estranged daughter. His talent and ambition are undeniable, but recognition remains elusive. Frustrated by his modest place in the literary world, he sees Yurlady, a teenage girl with exceptional writing talent, as a last chance to find meaning and recognition. Oscar throws himself into nurturing her talent as a poet and introduces her to the world of poetry. As he tries to shape her future, he projects his own failed ambitions onto her. The more he tries to mould her in his image, the more he is confronted with his own shortcomings.

Director Simón Mesa Soto worked with a mix of professional actors and non-professional performers. He wrote the screenplay with a future version of himself in mind, using the film to light-heartedly exorcise this feared image of himself. Mesa Soto’s second feature film won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival.

“A hilarious fable about trying to lead a creative life and failing miserably at making ends meet.”
— Variety

“It’s very easy to dismiss a film about a hapless loser. But it’s nearly as difficult to ignore a performance like the one Rios gives.”
— RogerEbert.com