ON A STRING
Director-Writer-Actor Isabel Hagen uses her magnetic eye and feel for tone to breathe life into the world of classical music in her feature directorial debut. Hilarious in the lead role, she surrounds herself with an outstanding cast, including Dylan Baker (HAPPINESS, DREAM SCENARIO), Jamie Lee (CRASHING) and Eric Bogosian (UNCUT GEMS, SUCCESSION). Blending the up-and-coming NYC classical music world of the television show MOZART IN THE JUNGLE with an offbeat and cringe comedy style akin to Todd Solondz, Isabel is a triple (quadruple? quintuple?) threat that is surely a talent to watch.
In the film, Isabel (played by Hagen), a Juilliard-trained violist, is still living at home with her parents while trying to make ends meet playing gigs with friends. But when her toxic ex—now the Philharmonic’s “newest, hottest cellist”—unexpectedly reappears and tells her about an open viola position in the prestigious orchestra, she’s forced to rethink her future.
Countries
United States- Awards
- Winner, Best Screenplay U.S. Narrative Feature, Tribeca Festival 2025
- Festivals
- Tribeca Film Festival
- Director
- Isabel Hagen
- Executive Producer
- Isabel Hagen, Hannah Dweck, Theodore Schaefer, Charlotte Ray Rosenberg, Jonathan Daniel Brown
- Producer
- Isabel Hagen, Olivia Vessel, Torrance Shepherd, Alex Vara, Annie McGrath
- Screenwriter
- Isabel Hagen
- Cinematographer
- Zac James Nicholson
- Editor
- Olivia Vessel
- Music
- Will Canzoneri
- Cast
- Isabel Hagen, Dylan Baker, Ling Ling Huang, Frederick Weller, Jamie Lee, Eric Bogosian