Fugue (2022)

FUGUE is an award-winning short film, starring award-winning violinist Diana Galvydyte in her acting debut. Her life as demanding as a Bach fugue, we follow Tatiana Clarke, an extremely talented violinist relaunching her career with a major concert in London. She has sold twelve tickets. Hereditary illness and trauma lurk through her schedule of practice and promotion. Each member of the family is a violinist: Tatiana, her mother Maria and her daughter Anna. Each must decide how to harmonise life with their art.

The story of the art life in modern London became a spiritual journey towards what it means to create — to attempt to leave a trace on an overwhelmingly deep and rich heritage. The life of a musician reflected the lives of us filmmakers.

We made Fugue between autumn 2021 and the summer of 2022. To make it was as challenging as it was fulfilling — with live violin recorded on set, and dozens of interlaced scenes rehearsed, shot and edited into a visual polyphonic fugue of a short film. It also bankrupted me, as I gleefully wiped out my (modest) savings and dived into my overdraft to pay back the rentals, cast and crew.

The film was well-received when we showed it in London and Ipswich, U.K. and won Honourable Mention at the London International Film Festival as well as being short-listed for Best LGBT+ Film at the London Director Awards.

If you’d like to view Fugue please get in touch. It’s currently not yet publicly released as it’s in consideration for more film festivals.