Greetings again from the darkness. So, what does one do with excess creative urges when one is a Julliard trained violist and a successful stand-up comedian? Well … how about writing, directing, and starring in a film filled with authenticity and familiar everyday struggles (even for those of us who aren’t classically trained). That’s exactly what Isabel Hagen has done, and the result is a gem of indie filmmaking.
Ms. Hagen appears as a blend of Greta Gerwig and Elizabeth Holmes. As Isabel, she’s a freelance violist with seemingly little ambition other than finding her place in life. She’s stumped by the question, ‘What do you do for fun?’ This is a slice of life tale of one who is socially awkward, yet not to the point of being weird or bizarre. Things just don’t seem to click for Isabel. The superb opening scene is an example, as Isabel plays solo during a botched marriage proposal in the park. This is merely the first touch of subtle comedy brilliantly inserted into what’s often thought of as serious moments.
We next see Isabel playing at a wedding ceremony, a funeral, a private dinner party, sitting in with an indie rock band, and at a recording session for a film score. She’s also seen breaking up with a boyfriend, having practice sessions with her regular quartet, keeping up a façade for a friend, managing strained family dynamics, and giving in-home lessons for a precocious 6-year-old. Isabel juggles all of this while nursing a painful wrist, practicing for a spot with the prestigious Philharmonic Orchestra, and fending off the advances of the 6-year-old’s dad (Frederick Weller).
Other supporting roles include violinist Ling Ling Huang as Isabel’s best friend, Dylan Baker as Isabel’s dad, Eric Bogosian as a hotheaded director, and an excellent Jamie Lee as the mother of the above-mentioned student and wife of the above-mentioned horny dad. Isabel’s obnoxious pianist brother is played by her real-life brother, Oliver Hagen, and their mother is played by Karen Blood. It’s difficult to do justice to the precise mixture of humor and drama, yet it’s the relatability to everyday moments that makes this one work so well.
In theaters through October 2026, and then hopefully will find an extended life through streaming
