Adapted from a nineteenth-century novella by the Austrian author Arthur Schnitzler, Late Fame is set in modern-day New York. When current postman and long-ago poet Ed Saxberger (Willem Dafoe) is rediscovered by aspiring writer Wilson Meyers (Edmund Donovan), he is drawn into the orbit of an eccentric group of young creatives, including Gloria (Greta Lee), a captivating singer and actress. The character study satirizes artistic pretention as it explores creativity, youth, aging, and what it means to be a successful artist.