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Bagatelle

A Russian cellist is stranded in Texas countryside as she tries to reconcile everyday life and her commitment to art.

  • Daniel Levin
    Director
    Moment Théâtral
  • Daniel Levin
    Writer
    Moment Théâtral
  • Tchavdar Georgiev
    Producer
    The Desert of Forbidden Art
  • Evgeniya Kregzhde
    Key Cast
    "Natalie"
    Pushkin Hills
  • Blake DeLong
    Key Cast
    "Cowboy"
    Pass Over
  • Ziv Berkovich
    DP
    Simple Wedding
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Auteur, Art-house
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 2, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Russian Federation
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Russian, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    S16mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Daniel Levin

Born in Russia and raised in Texas, Daniel graduated from USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles with a Master of Fine Arts in film directing. His graduate thesis film 'Moment Théâtral' (2007) received the prestigious Jack Nicholson Directing Award. Daniel produced the animated feature film 'Purim: The Lot' (2013), which is now out in wide release on home video and VOD. He directed the documentaries 'Kaltag, Alaska' and 'Kamchatka: The Salmon Country' in association with the WWF. Daniel lectures on filmmaking at universities and colleges around Houston, Texas.

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Director Statement

'Bagatelle' is a surrealist art-house short film about Natalie, a foreign cellist who comes to Texas in search of a better life. Life on the road is difficult and Natalie gives up. In pursuit of life’s basic comforts, she commits a series of petty betrayals, ultimately abandoning her instrument and her calling as a musician.
The film is inspired by 'Ionych', a novella by Anton Chekhov, in which he pokes fun at vanity, egoism, and immediate gratification at someone else’s expense. By no means a morality tale, 'Bagatelle' is a Chekhovian comedy that attempts to show us who we are without passing judgment.