The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals announced Resynator as the Audience Award winner for the 31st SXSW Film & TV Festival in the Documentary Feature Competition.
Director Alison Tavel’s Resynator is a moving documentary about her own story, exploring more about a prototype synthesizer created by her father, whom she did not know as he died when she was just a few months old. Just learning that fact—not knowing her father and discovering his creation many years later—grabbed me and kept me interested in following her journey.
This journey leads her to learn about his involvement in music, which is an integral part of his life, but ultimately, his role in making history in the music industry—one that had been overlooked. Tavel includes information about synthesizers, some history, and technology, which is helpful to those unfamiliar with details but very interesting for music fans already familiar with them.
As some individuals and families have learned, when we go back in time and study the ancestry and details of family members, some things are not discussed by the living about the deceased. Tavel tries to get as much information as possible but finds some resistance as she pursues difficult questions. However, she is determined to learn more about her father’s life and legacy.
I found it very interesting that the filmmaker went beyond speaking to relatives and reached out to peers willing to speak of their knowledge of his invention. She also connected to well-known musicians and interviewed them for the film as part of her research.
Tavel’s use of archival materials and animation is a plus as it provides information rather than solely using interviews (as some documentarians do). Danny Madden (Everything Everywhere All at Once) is credited with the animated sequences.
It is a good film, and I hope audiences can view it soon, either at a festival or when it has a theatrical or other release date.
Resynator had the World Premiere screening at the 2024 SXSW Film & Television Festival in March 2024 in Austin, TX. The film continues the festival circuit at the Seattle International Film Festival, with May 17th and 18th screenings.
Source: SXSW, SIFF