HARKNESS Review: The Truth About Being Married to Your Art
"I think we're getting too used to black and white scenarios." - Maria Markina
HARKNESS is a documentary feature film that follows the life of musician Harkness as he breaks into the music industry without the formal support of a record label to maintain his authenticity and full creative freedom.
From a young age, everyone in Harkness’s life knew he was different. He’s always had a dominant confidence that has given him an unshakable faith and artistry in his DNA.
With his father being a musician, he grew up feeling the energy of music in the form of love, expression, and creation. Contrarily, he saw the downsides of having an undying love for music, too. Harkness’s father had to sacrifice his passion for music to support his family, which damaged his mental health greatly—something Harkness also would face at a point in life.
But instead of sinking into that hole, he used it as ammo, saying, “I’m going to do what dad should’ve done. Or wanted to do.”
Harkness works as a server to fund his music career, makes music daily in his mother’s basement, and frequently promotes his work on social media. After decades of being a musician and not physically having the notoriety and accolades most would expect at this point, Harkness reinvents his definition of success to persist in the growth of his artistry.
“Success is greeting every moment without any [other] bullshit on my window to see it. Seeing a moment of creation that’s clear and being able to write a single, and being able to survive is success to me. —Harkness
On April 17, 2025, Harkness released his sophomore album titled Ciao To The Beauty, which is available everywhere you listen to music.
In her directorial debut, Maria Markina tells the story of her co-worker and friend, Harkness, whose unshakable faith has extended to her. Using documentary footage from two decades ago, before they met, weaving it in with current footage, Markina’s stellar filmmaking skills convey Harkness’s lasting passion stretching across timelines.
I just wanted to make a story that is relatable. To lots of different people, success looks different, and it’s more about what you perceive as success. — Maria Markina
And that is exactly what she executed.
Harkness is about persistence, dedication, and being in the driver’s seat of your own life.
A truly great film presented by the Brooklyn Film Festival, and a must-see. Check out more on the film here.
So true they never reach the goals but thank God he didn’t give up
It’s a lot of Harkness out there with the same passion