SOUND SPRING
Description
Sound Spring is an anthology documentary about Yellow Springs, a midwestern village in Ohio with a unique civil rights legacy. Its history distinguishes itself, because unlike today, when many small towns have been fractured by racism and economic disparity, members of this community have confronted inequality together. Each resident portrayed has helped create their own scene, based on an audio interview the director conducted with them
This progressive microcosm of the country has had memorable residents ranging from Tecumseh to Coretta Scott King—it is presently the home of Dave Chappelle, whose niece features in the film. The stories of eight residents are distinct but occasionally overlap: a descendant of the Conway Colony—formerly enslaved people who were helped to settle here by the abolitionist son of their slaver—and the daughter of Yellow Springs’ first black police chief, who handled the village’s largest protest when the white barber refused to cut black hair; a sixth generation student of Antioch College, whose enrollment is now decimated; a breakdancer and his DJ collaborator, playing on the steps of their old abandoned student union; a well-known film producer and former professor of the College who lost her job when the Collegeclosed and was not rehired when it reopened; a lifelong advocate for affordable housing; and a woman who recounts her mother’s friendship with Coretta Scott King, who studied at Antioch College but eventually transferred after struggling to carry out her internships because of racism in the village. Many speak of the village’s social justice struggles, and throughout the film, themes of home and the desire for belonging resonate.
The interviewees are not telling their stories for the first time—rather, most are lip-syncing recordings of their own previous interviews. Some interviewees are better at the performance than others; both the mistakes and uncertainty of these initial recordings, as well as occasional errors in re-performing, bring attention to the delicacy of preserving a story over time.
This progressive microcosm of the country has had memorable residents ranging from Tecumseh to Coretta Scott King—it is presently the home of Dave Chappelle, whose niece features in the film. The stories of eight residents are distinct but occasionally overlap: a descendant of the Conway Colony—formerly enslaved people who were helped to settle here by the abolitionist son of their slaver—and the daughter of Yellow Springs’ first black police chief, who handled the village’s largest protest when the white barber refused to cut black hair; a sixth generation student of Antioch College, whose enrollment is now decimated; a breakdancer and his DJ collaborator, playing on the steps of their old abandoned student union; a well-known film producer and former professor of the College who lost her job when the Collegeclosed and was not rehired when it reopened; a lifelong advocate for affordable housing; and a woman who recounts her mother’s friendship with Coretta Scott King, who studied at Antioch College but eventually transferred after struggling to carry out her internships because of racism in the village. Many speak of the village’s social justice struggles, and throughout the film, themes of home and the desire for belonging resonate.
The interviewees are not telling their stories for the first time—rather, most are lip-syncing recordings of their own previous interviews. Some interviewees are better at the performance than others; both the mistakes and uncertainty of these initial recordings, as well as occasional errors in re-performing, bring attention to the delicacy of preserving a story over time.
Festivals
Official Selection, Cleveland International Film Festival
Reviews
"Unconventional in its production yet traditional in intention, Sound Spring is a love letter to a small town. The experimental documentary genre is continuously pushing boundaries and Sound Spring is a welcomed new entry. Catalina Alvarez boldly shows what’s possible in this art form..." - Cinemacy
"A wonderful documentary time capsule of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Directed with playful precision and a generous heart, Sound Spring tells the story of eight vignettes that paint a vibrant, funny, and deeply human portrait of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Sound Spring is lo-fi but lush, shot with intimacy and affection." - Film Focus Online
