Underplayed

Directed by Stacey Lee, Underplayed explores the degree to which female electronic artists have failed to receive the recognition (and fame) of their male counterparts. It’s intriguing, promising subject matter that’s employed to progressively less-than-captivating effect by Lee, and it’s ultimately clear that Underplayed is at its best in its briskly-paced and frequently fascinating opening stretch – as first-time filmmaker Lee does an effective job of detailing the history of the EDM movement and the surprising role women have played in its emergence (and growing popularity). It doesn’t hurt, certainly, that the movie provides a behind-the-scenes peek into the lives and careers of several well-known figures in the EDM world, including REZZ and Alison Wonderland, and yet there’s little doubt, unfortunately, that Underplayed does begin to demonstrably peter out as it moves into a meandering and decidedly unfocused second half (ie Lee attempts to fill time by emphasizing a whole host of tangential, far-from-enthralling elements) – which, in the end, cements the picture’s place as an erratic documentary that does, at the very least, shine a light on an underrepresented assortment of artists and technicians.

** out of ****