Meticulous sound design and editing, courtesy of Nicholas Becker and a fresh performance from Riz Ahmed (Rougue One: A Star Wars Story, Venom) make ‘Sound of Metal’ a visceral viewing experience. A true gem that represents the deaf community and gives a glimpse into their lives.
Riz Ahmed is Ruben a former drug addict who has been sober for a few years-he plays the drums as part of a punk-metal duo with his girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) -while on tour Ruben starts to lose his hearing.
The freedom to travel while on tour and play music, his simple life with Lou is in danger of disappearing forever, and Ruben is determined it won’t happen, he is convinced that he can get his hearing fixed, that everything will return to what they were before.
Desperately trying to hold on to his hearing, he joins a deaf community where he reluctantly tries to “learn to become deaf” -he is put in a children’s class and starts to learn how to communicate by using sign language. He eventually bonds with the children and the people in the community but his denial of the loss of his hearing and possibly his life with Lou pushes him on the edge. He is struggling with the impending silence surrounding him and grasping at his old life by the straws.
Kudos to the film’s sound design and editing, which makes Ruben’s journey real to the audience, yes, even to those who can hear. The film takes the audience in and out of Ruben’s head and allows them to experience the world as he does, and it is unlike anything I have ever seen, heard or experienced in a film before.
I was immediately interested in the movie after seeing the trailer and it did not disappoint. There is some award season promise in there and I am definitely rooting for the movie to receive nominations for Sound Design/Sound Editing and Riz Ahmed’s sublime performance.
“Sound of Metal” is now streaming on Amazon Prime.