On a String (Previously Unreleased)

In her feature debut, Isabel Hagen humorously portrays the life of her Gen Z alter ego “Isabel.” She has just graduated as a violinist from the prestigious Juilliard School. With occasional gig performances at weddings and events, she tries to make ends meet, but it isn’t easy in a city where competition is ruthless. To cut costs, Isabel still lives at home with her slightly neurotic family. She is also troubled by the knowledge that her brother Owen is a more talented musician than she is.

Isabel’s life takes a new turn when her toxic ex Dave, a cellist with the New York Philharmonic who has been promoted as the newest star, tells her he can arrange an audition for her. Isabel doesn’t hesitate for a second: what could possibly go wrong?

The feature debut of Isabel Hagen (1998)—a former Juilliard student and stand-up comedian who bears a striking resemblance to Greta Gerwig—was received at various festivals (Tribeca, Cleveland, Tallinn) as a successful portrait of how a twentysomething in New York struggles with ambition, love, family, and a range of everyday discomforts. Hagen’s restrained acting and directing style makes the witty dialogue and absurd situations stand out even more sharply, which is why the film was embraced as a “classic American indie.”