Winner of the Jury Prize in Cannes 2025’s Un Certain Regard section, A Poet is a funny, touching, and absurdist tale about trying to live a creative life while stumbling through reality.Set in Medellín, the film follows Oscar Restrepo (Ubeimar Ríos), once a promising young writer, now middle-aged, divorced, and living with his mother. Ríos delivers a brilliant, natural performance, capturing Oscar’s awkwardness, vulnerability, and stubborn dignity with both humor and heart. He drifts through life with awkward family encounters, drunken bravado, and arguments about who is Colombia’s greatest poet, while longing for connection and meaning. Soto introduces Oscar in short, comic scenes that are both hilarious and bittersweet, making his character deeply human.Oscar’s world shifts when he meets Yurlady, a teenager played by Rebeca Andrade, whose sharp, honest writing reignites his hopes of reclaiming lost glory. Their uneasy bond brings both absurd humor and surprising tenderness. At the same time, Soto sharpens his satire, exposing the hypocrisies of art institutions and cultural gatekeepers who attempt to commodify Yurlady’s talent for their own prestige. The film walks a tightrope between critique and compassion, always returning to the complicated yet touching relationship at its center.Shot on textured 16mm film, A Poet has a warm, timeless look that complements its absurdist tone. The score by Trio Ramberget and Matti Bye balances raucous comedy with quiet emotional moments. With this feature, Simón Mesa Soto, already recognized at Cannes for Leidi and Amparo, delivers a witty, heartfelt story about art, ambition, and the messy, unpredictable path of creative life.Nicole Guillemet