[SXSW 2024] RESYNATOR -- An Intimate, Unexpectedly Brave Documentary

Review by Sean Boelman

Courtesy Select A Shape Pictures

When a documentary filmmaker makes a movie about their own story, there are generally two ways it can go: an ego trip or something incredibly revealing and humanistic. Alison Tavel’s Resynator falls mostly into the latter category, telling its intimate story in a way that feels quite moving, even if you don’t have any personal connection to the material.

Resynator follows the filmmaker as she discovers a prototype synthesizer created by her dad, who died when she was an infant, sending her on a quest to form a connection with the father she never knew. Although this starts as a very music-focused documentary, as Tavel uncovers her father’s overlooked role in music history, it becomes much more.

The parts of the movie discussing the history and technology of synthesizers are interesting — especially if you are a fan of music and sound. However, it arguably works better as a sort of “road movie” that Tavel is sharing with the memory of her father. It hits many of that genre's sentimental beats in an emotionally satisfying way.

One of the most intriguing things about Resynator is how unafraid Tavel is to go into the complexities of her father’s story. At a certain point, the movie takes a very dark turn, and Tavel leans into it. She begins to ask difficult questions about not only her father’s legacy but also his life, being willing to interrogate her presuppositions. ​

Courtesy Select A Shape Pictures

This is an incredibly personal film, and with that comes the risk that the filmmaker will spend too much time talking about themself. Thankfully, Tovel manages to avoid this for the majority of the runtime. After a brief introduction in which she discusses her own creative ventures, Tovel keeps the movie primarily focused on her father and his invention.

The film's most interesting moments are those in which she speaks with her father’s peers and relatives, unearthing the story of what happened to the invention — and, eventually, her father. To lend a bit of a bigger profile to the project, Tovel interviews famous musicians about her father’s synthesizer, including Peter Gabriel, Gotye, Fred Armisen, Grace Potter, and more. While these interviews don’t say much of anything, they feel like a natural part of the research process.

In addition to the interviews, Tovel incorporates archive materials and animated sequences. The animated sequences, created by Danny Madden (who was in the animation department on Everything Everywhere All at Once), are cool and lend the movie a nice bit of personality — although they are a bit scant in number.

Resynator impresses thanks to filmmaker Alison Tavel’s willingness to explore the darker, more complex aspects of her father’s legacy. It’s a fascinating, emotional investigation that — while not particularly challenging for the viewer — allows Tavel to be introspective in a way that is engaging and surprisingly egoless.

Resynator is screening at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, which runs March 8-16 in Austin, TX.

​Rating: 4.5/5