Debbie Harry , lead vocalist of the band Blondie, headlines the cast of the Tribeca-selected short “ Catharsis .” Brian Logvinsky’s directorial debut follows a dancer savant on the brink of self-destruction, confronted by a peculiar psychotherapist who delves into his subconscious. The 17-minute film blends surrealism, performance art and horror, drawing from Logvinsky’s own Soviet-American heritage.
Harrison Ball stars as Alex, a gifted but troubled dancer grieving his mother’s death. He lives with his superstitious aunt Anya, played by Harry, who believes a family curse fuels Alex’s destructive behavior. Anya convinces Alex to visit the unconventional Dr.
Leechny (Marc Geller), who, along with his assistants Chakra and Harmony (Jemima Kirke), uses hypnosis to help Alex confront his inner demons. The film culminates in a transformative sequence where Alex, guided by a vision of his deceased mother, finds redemption. As dawn breaks, he dances through New York City, symbolizing his cathartic release.
The cast also includes Sasha Pivovarova and Zumi Rosow, with a guest appearance by Black Lips. Produced by Jess Vogel and Harrison Jaffee, with executive producers Ball, Miranda Kahn and Zac Posen, “Catharsis” features editing by Max Basch and cinematography by Jo Jo Lam. Posen also serves as the costume designer.
“My debut short film ‘Catharsis’ is a post-Soviet fever dream, deeply personal and reflective of my heritage having grown up a confused child of im.