On a String

Name: On a String
Duration: 1 h 18 min

1hr 18m

1hr 18m
3.5/5 (373)
100%

A Juilliard-trained violist navigates the New York City freelance classical musician scene, playing gigs that often draw her into the personal lives of… More Details »

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Movie Info & Cast

Release Date:

Sep 11, 2026

Runtime:

1hr 18m

Synopsis

A Juilliard-trained violist navigates the New York City freelance classical musician scene, playing gigs that often draw her into the personal lives of strangers, all while living in her oddball family's NYC apartment.

Moviegoers are saying

Isabel Hagen's directorial debut, On a String, is landing with Tribeca and New Hampshire Film Festival crowds as a sharp, funny, and surprisingly tender look at the life of a classical violist. Reviewers keep reaching for Greta Gerwig touchstones like Frances Ha and Shiva Baby, and they single out the scrunched-up faces of musicians playing viola and violin as the film's emotional heart. One viewer's verdict captures the room: 'Very funny with some good heart.'

Top Mentions

Scrunched-Face-Poetry

Gerwig-Adjacent

Classical-Realism

Punchline-Packed

Tendinitis-Approved

Festival-Favorite

Summary generated from the text of Atom User reviews

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.5

RATINGS 0 FANS

3.5

Jun 7, 2025

Isabel Hagen is giving off Greta Gerwig vibes. On a String is sort of like Frances Ha, if it were in color, if Frances were a violist instead of a dancer, if she went to Juilliard, and if she still lived at home with her parents.

41 Likes

Lexi Amoriello

Jun 5, 2025

Maybe one of the best man with guitar sequences i’ve seen. I PA’d this! ❤️❤️

40 Likes

chuckbotmovie

Jun 7, 2025

Isabel Hagen’s directorial debut is funny, sharp, and beautifully realized. An exciting debut from an extremely promising talent!! Really loved all the shots of scrunched up faces playing viola/violin, somehow felt like that scrunched face was the heart of the whole…

28 Likes

mpearlman
Jun 9, 2025

Probably the best and most realistic film on the life of classical musicians. Hilarious, poignant, and one of a kind. Actually can’t believe it’s her first film. 10/10

21 Likes

markjdover1987

Jun 5, 2025

Ugh this was so awkward, so funny, so real

17 Likes

Alex

Oct 19, 2025

New Hampshire Film Festival — Day 4 Film #16 — On a String Very funny with some good heart — a great way to finish up the NHFF. Quick funny anecdote: after the film ended, we noticed that the writer/actress/director Isabel Hagen was there to answer a few questions. My…

15 Likes

Keith 📽🎬🍿
Sep 27, 2025

Very big Greta Gerwig energy. If you’re a fan of Francis Ha, or Shiva Baby, I think you’ll really like this one!

15 Likes

sam

Jun 9, 2025

Funny, sweet and heartwarming. A great watch for all young artists - especially women.

16 Likes

racheldratch

Jun 8, 2025

Isabel Hagen played Max Richter’s Sleep live, so she knows about tendinitis. Cringe comedy meets aimlessness, meets good intentions and bad ones. ‘Your generation is so militant!’ I laughed a lot at that line.

14 Likes

Nadine Whitney