Rent Sound of Metal (2019)

Sound of Metal review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso

Sound of Metal may be the first film to accurately depict hearing loss's anxiety, sadness, and contentment. A lesser film might’ve resorted to melodrama or even gross exaggeration. Director and co-writer Darius Marder does not reduce this movie to such simple platitudes. What follows is an emotional journey of one man coming to terms with a part of himself that has changed and the struggles of coming to terms with life.

At the story's heart is drummer Ruben, expertly played by Riz Ahmed. Having enjoyed the life of a rocker with loud music, he’s become used to the high volumes. But the constant drumming and heavy guitar have taken their toll on his ears. He wakes up one morning to discover that he can’t hear well. It sounds like he’s underwater, where his world is muffled. The audio sticks to this format for a long time, locking the audience inside Ruben’s world of deafness. It’s a scary scenario, and we feel as anxious as Ruben. Had the entire film been like this, it’d be just as bold now.

To face his deafness and drug addiction, Ruben pushes aside his music career. He bids a temporary farewell to his caring girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) to learn at a shelter for the deaf and recovering. He meets the kind and patient Joe (Paul Raci), the shelter’s leader who has been around long enough to know how hard it is to be deaf and an addict. He helps Joe learn sign language and finds outlets for his frustrations, including writing down his thoughts. However, the only thing Ruben can think of is an expensive surgery that might restore his hearing. And even if he can get it, there’s no guarantee that he’ll hear the same way he did before.

This profoundly moving film is overflowing with melancholy and tender moments that work so well by engraining the viewer into Ruben’s world. When Ruben awakens and realizes his deafness won’t disappear, it’s an earth-shattering experience considering how much his insurance will cover. There’s a rather sweet and quiet moment where Ruben finds a way to connect with a deaf kid. The child places his ear on a metal slide, and Ruben taps the other end, creating delightful percussion. Ahmed’s performance is astounding for saying so much with so little.

The film has this constant air of finding stability but also peace. Ruben’s life was a wreck before he attended the shelter, and the road continues to be a rocky one right up to his departure. The heartfelt moments carry him to the point of finding happiness after such a fall. The final scene is of him turning off his hearing aid and finding calmness. It has this serene sensation of appreciating life even when our bodies break down. Just because Ruben’s life as a drummer has ended doesn’t mean his own life has to take a bow. And this heartfelt nature never comes across as hokey.

Sound of Metal is one of the best uses of sound editing to tap into the relatability of deafness and weave beautiful drama from it. The performances are fantastic, with Ahmed being the star, but special attention should be given to Raci, who is electrifying every moment on screen. So much effort went into this production that it should be noted as far more than just the movie where Riz Ahmed plays a deaf guy. It’s so much more than that; hopefully, it’ll be regarded as such in the future.