A Poet / Un Poeta, the dark comedy by Simón Mesa Soto, had a very strong opening in its U.S. theatrical release, earning a solid $27,754 in its opening weekend from engagements at IFC Center in New York City and Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles, for a per-theater average of $13,877.
Accompanied by strong critical acclaim, including a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film—distributed by 1-2 Special—was selected as a New York Times Critic’s Pick and received very positive reviews from numerous leading publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Film Stage, and RogerEbert.com.
Winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes and nominated for Best International Film at the Independent Spirit Awards, A Poet is expanding this week to additional cities nationwide, including Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle. Mesa Soto will appear in person for Q&A sessions in select cities.
Colombia’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 98th Academy Awards, the film has been a favorite on the festival circuit, receiving multiple awards including Horizontes Latinos at San Sebastián; Best Film at Budapest and El Gouna; Best Narrative Feature at Philadelphia; Bright Horizons at Melbourne; and Lima’s Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography.
A Poet tells the story of Oscar, a middle-aged, erratic failed writer who has given up on life. Unemployed and living with his family, he wanders the streets of Medellín in a drunken stupor, lamenting the state of literature in his home country and embodying the cliché of the tortured artist. However, the opportunity to mentor a young student offers a chance at redemption—if he doesn’t screw it up first.
In a performance marked by darkly comic pathos, first-time actor Ubeimar Rios stars in this raw and riotous farce about how good deeds are often met with the universe’s idea of cruel and unusually poetic punishment.
