“Trundle” takes us on a journey of Soup, Struggles, and Unity

n the bustling city where magic meets quirky characters, a heartwarming story about Trundle (Daniel Simonsen) strives to overcome the challenges thrown his way. “Trundle and the Lost Borscht of Atlantis” takes us on a journey where soup becomes a symbol of resilience.

The film revolves around Trundle, who creates the city’s best borscht which is a bright and flavorful soup that captures the essence of his character. Despite his natural ability, Trundle faces discrimination from Mr. Murray (Patrick Breen), who deems him too hideous to work the counter. However, the plot takes a turn when a regular customer (Marceline Hugot) seeks to express gratitude to the maker of the city’s best borscht.

In an exclusive interview with Zachary Smolar, we journey into the origins of this fantastic short film.  Trundle’s character evolved from a seed-sweating bagel shop dweller to a borscht spouting miracle creature. 

“So, a soup was the best option, but for it to show up on film and still read correctly, it needed to be a bright soup” said Smolar. “Borscht sealed the deal, and the rest of Trundle’s story is history.”

The production, spearheaded by Director Laura Lee and the dedicated crew, faced its share of challenges during the four-day shoot in Brooklyn. 

“The best part was just seeing the way the crew came together to create something that was greater than the sum of its parts. No one was getting paid very much, these were hot humid days (raining for half of it), and it was the middle of Covid. Still, the cast and crew could not have been kinder or more professional.”

Addressing the difficulties encountered during the filming, Smolar emphasizes the unique challenge of maintaining social distance, especially when shooting in a basement. However, the resilience of the team prevailed, resulting in a film that transcends its production challenges.

Reflecting on the experience, Smolar shares valuable lessons learned, including the importance of booking locations well in advance. Despite the inevitable hurdles, the team remains optimistic, carrying these lessons into their future projects.

For aspiring filmmakers and those eager to step into the production space, Smolar imparts a quirky piece of advice: “A crew runs on its stomach. Ordering lunch is the most important thing you can do on set.” It’s a testament to the camaraderie and essential rituals that contribute to the success of any film production.

To stay updated on the team’s future endeavors, audiences are encouraged to follow the Trundle journey on Instagram: @trundlefilm and explore the hashtag #astarisborscht. As “Trundle and the Lost Borscht of Atlantis” warms hearts, it also shines a spotlight on the passion and dedication that drive independent filmmakers in their quest to bring unique stories to the silver screen. 

The magic of “Trundle and the Lost Borscht of Atlantis” is made possible by the incredible talents of Daniel Simonsen, Patrick Breen, Marceline Hugot, Laura Lee, Zachary Smolar, Ariel Dreicer, Charlotte Hornsby, and Joel Figueroa

“Trundle and the Lost Borscht of Atlantis” will be screening in February as part of the Utah International Film Festival.