Um Poeta

This film has everything: comedy, dark humor, Colombian stories and customs, strong dramas, tough and difficult scenes, a good script, surprises, and unexpected twists beyond the typical plots we're used to. Family stories that bring tears to your eyes, laughter, and evil characters who sometimes make you doubt whether they're right. Plus, they make sure not to fall into the typical clichés of superficial Colombian "Paisa" women or drug addicts. No, this film is different, daring, funny, and with a wide range of characters. It's a big little epic that anyone who loves reading or writing should definitely see.

This movie is precious. The direction is authentic, the script is creative, smart, funny and at the same time thought-provoking. The performance of these actors is significantly impressive.

Those who speak Spanish will have a very good time watching it. I promise it!

Music, photography and narrative are very cohesive, so you will be connected to the story from the start 'til then end.

Amazing movie, Simon! Thanks for creating this master piece.

Thanks to the Ankara Film Festival, I had the chance to see "Un Poeta", one of the best films I've watched in 2025. This accomplished Colombian production immediately stands out with its strong editing and striking cinematography. It manages to break free from nearly all the familiar clichés of South American cinema, creating a genuinely authentic atmosphere. The director's generous storytelling gives the narrative a fast-shifting, multilayered structure. So while it may seem smooth and easy to watch at first, it's actually a remarkably dense film beneath the surface. With its colors, poetic texture, and subtle humor, it lingers long after the credits roll.

"Un Poeta" carves out a distinct place with its layered storytelling, poetic tone, and strong visual language. Its colors, rhythm, and delicate humor make it an experience I don't easily shake off. I'll definitely be keeping the director on my radar from here on.

They say that "no good deed goes unpunished." If you doubt that, just ask Oscar Restrepo (Ubeimar Rios). The middle-aged, modestly talented poet struggles to get by on multiple fronts, but, to be honest, he's often his own worst enemy, frequently getting in his own way, digging in his heels and refusing to make any compromises that might make his life easier and more palatable. He's broke financially, living with his aging mother (Margarita Soto), and relations with his largely estranged college-age daughter (Alisson Correa) are severely strained, particularly since she pities him as a pathetic loser. He also pleads with the publishers of his two long-ago released poetry books (Guillermo Cardona, Humberto Restrepo) to provide more marketing support for these titles in the hope that it will attract more readers to his work, something he firmly and sincerely believes is vital to the betterment and survival of society, not to mention his artistic visibility and personal well-being. And, if all this weren't challenging enough, he's got something of a drinking problem. But, try as he might to rectify these matters, this "sad poet" (or, more aptly described, "sad sack") sees little improvement in any of these areas. So, with his back against the wall, he at least finally relents on the financial front and takes a job as a teacher, a position he looks upon with disdain, as if he's compromising his artistic sensibilities. However, while in this new job, he discovers a student who appears to have genuine talent as a poet, Yurlady (Rebeca Andrade), a 15-year-old minority from an economically challenged background. Oscar wants to help her develop her art, helping her become enrolled in the poetry school run by his publishers, an opportunity that would allow her to participate in its poetry festival, creating greater exposure for her work and possibly enabling her to win a cash prize. It also gives him a chance to vicariously experience her success, something that hasn't come to pass in its own right in his own life. Indeed, Oscar's plan to help Yurlady all sounds so eminently reasonable. But, as the opening line of this summary maintains, whatever can go wrong seems to find a way to fulfillment, especially for someone who's convinced he's irretrievably cursed, a "sad poet" in the truest sense of the term. However, as Oscar's pathos plays out, it's thoroughly tinged with droll humor, ironically but hilariously confirming his worst fears about himself and how others see him. His becomes a story of bad luck personified, not only in endeavors where he shoots himself in the foot, but also in undertakings where he earnestly attempts to do something good and noble. He's truly a hard luck case for whom it's easy to feel sorry, but his is more the tale of a sad clown than a genuinely tragic figure, one about whom it's easy to laugh at, but more out of loving support than harsh ridicule. Even in the height of his anguish, he's someone that viewers can't help but pull for, hoping that he will somehow find a way to make things work and at last achieve a semblance of happiness in his life and calling. Writer-director Simón Mesa Soto has come up with a genuinely inspired piece of filmmaking in his second feature effort, one that has garnered more than its share of awards and nominations from film festivals and awards competitions, including as the winner of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard Jury Prize and as an Independent Spirit Award nominee for best international film. But, despite these accolades, "A Poet" is clearly one of those delicious little indie gems that has flown well under the radar thus far, even though its gentle, witty humor, fine performances, and atmospheric soundtrack are all elements well worth the watch. And, while poetry may not necessarily be everyone's cup of tea, the filmmaker has successfully found a way to make it a warm and thoroughly enjoyable experience. Do yourself a good deed and give this one a look; I promise you won't be punished for it.