Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival presents to you “Meet the Filmmakers”.
This episode features the film “On a String” and its director Isabel Hagen, in conversation with Triin Tamberg.
Tune in to find answers to some fascinating questions, such as:
1. To what extent is the film based on biographical facts?
2. In the film, you were simultaneously the director, lead actress, and musician – which of these roles was the most challenging for you?
3. Is there a particular scene from the film that you would like to highlight?
The dramedy “On a String” follows a young violist, Isabel, who lives in New York with her eccentric family and is trying to make it as a musician. Big performances and a place in a symphony orchestra are, unfortunately, far out of reach, and to make ends meet Isabel mostly plays at smaller events such as funerals and weddings. Suddenly, her ex – now a rising star in the philharmonic – reappears and offers her the chance to audition for her dream orchestra. Isabel finds herself caught in a whirlwind of ambition, romance, and the chaos of delayed adulthood.
Isabel Hagen (1998) is a New York–based stand-up comedian and classically trained violist. As a comedian, she has appeared twice on Jimmy Fallon’s talk show “The Tonight Show.” She began performing stand-up soon after completing her master’s degree in viola at the prestigious Juilliard School. As a musician, she has played in orchestras for numerous Broadway productions and collaborated with well-known artists such as Björk, Max Richter, Japanese Breakfast, Steve Reich, and Vampire Weekend. “On a String” is Hagen’s debut feature, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, where it won the award for Best US Screenplay. Hagen both stars in the film and plays the viola, bringing to the screen her acting skill as well as her musical talent.
Listen on Spotify:
Read more about the film:
https://poff.ee/en/film/on-a-string/
PÖFF TV is a special online festival channel to supplement the film programme, to share the emotions and meanings of the film world and exclusive interviews with festival guests.
PÖFF TV is supported by Photopoint.
Tallinna Pimedate Ööde filmifestival toob teieni saate “Meet the Filmmakers“.
Seekord on peaosas film “Pingul keel“ ja režissöör Isabel Hagen, kellega vestles Triin Tramberg.
Kuula kaasa ja saad vastused muuhulgas järgmistele põnevatele küsimustele:
1. Mil määral põhineb film eluloolistel faktidel?
2. Olid filmis korraga nii režissöör, näitleja kui ka muusik – millist neist rollidest oli kõige keerulisem täita?
3. Kas sulle meenub filmist mõni stseen, mille tahaksid eriti välja tuua?
Draamakomöödia “Pingul keel” räägib noorest vioolamängijast Isabelist, kes elab New Yorgis oma ekstsentrilise pere juures ja püüab muusikuna läbi lüüa. Suurtest esinemistest ja sümfooniaorkestrist on asi aga paraku kaugel ja äraelamiseks peab Isabel mängima pigem väiksematel üritustel, nagu matused ja pulmad. Järsku ilmub taas välja tema filharmooniaorkestris tuntust koguv eks, kes pakub talle võimalust unistuste orkestrile ette mängida. Isabel satub ambitsioonide, romantika ja hilinenud täiskasvanuks saamise virrvarri.
Isabel Hagen (1998) on New Yorgis elav ja tegutsev püstijalakoomik ning klassikalise haridusega vioolamängija. Koomikuna on ta kahel korral esinenud Jimmy Falloni jutusaates “The Tonight Show”. Stand-up’iga alustas ta kohe pärast magistriõpingute lõpetamist vioola erialal mainekas Juilliardi koolis. Muusikuna on ta mänginud orkestris arvukatel Broadway etendustel ja töötanud koos mitmete tuntud artistidega nagu Björk, Max Richter, Japanese Breakfast, Steve Reich ja Vampire Weekend. “Pingul keel” on Hageni debüütfilm, mis esilinastus Tribeca Filmifestivalil New Yorgis, kus võitis ka USA parima stsenaariumi auhinna. Hagen mängib filmis ise peaosa ning ka vioolat, tuues ekraanile nii oma näitlejameisterlikkuse kui ka muusikalise talendi.
Kuula Spotifys:
Loe veel filmi kohta:
https://poff.ee/film/pingul-keel/
Lisaks filmifestivali filmiprogrammile linastub internetis PÖFF TV kanal, mis toob teieni eksklusiivsed intervjuud filmitegijatega ja aitab avada filmimaailma telgitaguseid.
PÖFF TV-d toetab Photopoint.
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival presents to you “Meet the Filmmakers”.
This episode features the film “On a String” and its director Isabel Hagen, in conversation with Triin Tamberg.
Tune in to find answers to some fascinating questions, such as:
1. To what extent is the film based on biographical facts?
2. In the film, you were simultaneously the director, lead actress, and musician – which of these roles was the most challenging for you?
3. Is there a particular scene from the film that you would like to highlight?
The dramedy “On a String” follows a young violist, Isabel, who lives in New York with her eccentric family and is trying to make it as a musician. Big performances and a place in a symphony orchestra are, unfortunately, far out of reach, and to make ends meet Isabel mostly plays at smaller events such as funerals and weddings. Suddenly, her ex – now a rising star in the philharmonic – reappears and offers her the chance to audition for her dream orchestra. Isabel finds herself caught in a whirlwind of ambition, romance, and the chaos of delayed adulthood.
Isabel Hagen (1998) is a New York–based stand-up comedian and classically trained violist. As a comedian, she has appeared twice on Jimmy Fallon’s talk show “The Tonight Show.” She began performing stand-up soon after completing her master’s degree in viola at the prestigious Juilliard School. As a musician, she has played in orchestras for numerous Broadway productions and collaborated with well-known artists such as Björk, Max Richter, Japanese Breakfast, Steve Reich, and Vampire Weekend. “On a String” is Hagen’s debut feature, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, where it won the award for Best US Screenplay. Hagen both stars in the film and plays the viola, bringing to the screen her acting skill as well as her musical talent.
Listen on Spotify:
Read more about the film:
https://poff.ee/en/film/on-a-string/
PÖFF TV is a special online festival channel to supplement the film programme, to share the emotions and meanings of the film world and exclusive interviews with festival guests.
PÖFF TV is supported by Photopoint.
Tallinna Pimedate Ööde filmifestival toob teieni saate “Meet the Filmmakers“.
Seekord on peaosas film “Pingul keel“ ja režissöör Isabel Hagen, kellega vestles Triin Tramberg.
Kuula kaasa ja saad vastused muuhulgas järgmistele põnevatele küsimustele:
1. Mil määral põhineb film eluloolistel faktidel?
2. Olid filmis korraga nii režissöör, näitleja kui ka muusik – millist neist rollidest oli kõige keerulisem täita?
3. Kas sulle meenub filmist mõni stseen, mille tahaksid eriti välja tuua?
Draamakomöödia “Pingul keel” räägib noorest vioolamängijast Isabelist, kes elab New Yorgis oma ekstsentrilise pere juures ja püüab muusikuna läbi lüüa. Suurtest esinemistest ja sümfooniaorkestrist on asi aga paraku kaugel ja äraelamiseks peab Isabel mängima pigem väiksematel üritustel, nagu matused ja pulmad. Järsku ilmub taas välja tema filharmooniaorkestris tuntust koguv eks, kes pakub talle võimalust unistuste orkestrile ette mängida. Isabel satub ambitsioonide, romantika ja hilinenud täiskasvanuks saamise virrvarri.
Isabel Hagen (1998) on New Yorgis elav ja tegutsev püstijalakoomik ning klassikalise haridusega vioolamängija. Koomikuna on ta kahel korral esinenud Jimmy Falloni jutusaates “The Tonight Show”. Stand-up’iga alustas ta kohe pärast magistriõpingute lõpetamist vioola erialal mainekas Juilliardi koolis. Muusikuna on ta mänginud orkestris arvukatel Broadway etendustel ja töötanud koos mitmete tuntud artistidega nagu Björk, Max Richter, Japanese Breakfast, Steve Reich ja Vampire Weekend. “Pingul keel” on Hageni debüütfilm, mis esilinastus Tribeca Filmifestivalil New Yorgis, kus võitis ka USA parima stsenaariumi auhinna. Hagen mängib filmis ise peaosa ning ka vioolat, tuues ekraanile nii oma näitlejameisterlikkuse kui ka muusikalise talendi.
Kuula Spotifys:
Loe veel filmi kohta:
https://poff.ee/film/pingul-keel/
Lisaks filmifestivali filmiprogrammile linastub internetis PÖFF TV kanal, mis toob teieni eksklusiivsed intervjuud filmitegijatega ja aitab avada filmimaailma telgitaguseid.
PÖFF TV-d toetab Photopoint.
