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‘A Poet’ Review: Simón Mesa Soto Crafts a Hilariously Absurdist Fable About Trying to Lead an Artistic Life


A standout of the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, Simón Mesa Soto’s 'A Poet' manages to successfully mesh together different thematic tones.

He disastrously ruins an invitation to read his poetry at a cultural event by appearing drunk and going on a tirade about the futility of trying to lead an artist’s life. Trio Ramberget and Matti Bye’s music tends to come in loud bursts that embellish the absurdity of proceedings, but can also be quietly affectionate as needed to tenderly move the audience. No stranger to Cannes, where he won a short film Palme d’Or in 2014 for “Leidi” and another prize at Critics’ Week for his 2021 feature debut “Amparo,” Soto delivers on the potential those accolades foretold.

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