What happens when a young man starts losing his hearing? How does the world change for him overall in terms of his career as well as his personal life? What has he lost and what has he gained through his experiences? And is there a certain sense of growth for the characters themselves due to these circumstances? These are some deep questions one has to consider when watching Darius Marder's quintessential masterpiece Sound of Metal. It is a movie that focuses on the concept of hearing loss by showing more than one side of the issue and makes one wonder about the subject but touches deeper with other themes that show a whole other world than normal people could possibly imagine. The movie starts off with a young man named Ruben (Riz Ahmed) who is a part of a metal band named Blackgammon with his girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) which has them touring the country in an RV. One day, Ruben starts having trouble with sound and it is difficult for him to perform. He seeks out help and finds out that he has lost most of his hearing and will need cochlear implants that could benefit him. Ruben doesn't have the money and is desperate for options. He tries to continue performing but Lou wants him to stop for his health and worries about him because of this new reality and the fact that he is a recovering addict. He then comes across a rural shelter for deaf recovering addicts which is run by Hector (Paul Raci) and this jump starts a new world for Rubin. One of the first things I noticed about the movie is the concept of change. This happens in quite a few ways in terms of Ruben himself. His world gets thrown upside down due to his sudden hearing loss which upends his career and causes him and his girlfriend to go on different paths. He then discovers the community for individuals like him and he learns new things and is open to a new world where he can experience things he never thought possible, though this isn't something he fully accepts at first, but he soon starts to appreciate the smaller things and it molds him into a different person, going through a type of metamorphosis which is fully realized at the end. There's also the idea of love. Something that stuck with me was the relationship between Ruben and Lou which is a complex one at that. They both love each other and it is evident that they wouldn't be where they are in their lives if not for that connection. But one has to wonder if being apart is better for these two considering Ruben's lifestyle at the time. Being deaf changed that, and when we see them both together, the love is still there but it has changed considerably. They both could arguably be in better places due to this unforeseen event. They both saved each other but they are better off being separate for their own sakes. Love is a beautiful yet sad and strange thing. Then there's Paul's community for addicts who are deaf. It is clear that Paul has a strong sense of purpose in his life. He is an individual who was in Ruben's situation at one point and could have gone down an entirely different path. Paul was able to clean up and make a difference not just in his life, but others who were in the same situation he was in. I look at Paul as a role model/father figure who is respectable regardless of whether he agrees or disagrees with an individual. But he also displays a sense of tough love, especially with Ruben. He can be caring but also has his morals and is set in his ways when it comes to the goal of what he is trying to do with his community. And Ruben challenges that in terms of what he wants for himself at that moment in time. Another important theme is the idea of addiction. We know all about Ruben being a past drug addict as well as Paul's past life and those at the community that he cares for who are recovering. But being an addict has more than one meaning here. It can be viewed as the love that Ruben has for Lou which has its highs and lows. But most importantly, there is the idea of wanting to hear again which is in the back of Ruben's mind. This is something that could be viewed as an addiction according to Paul, and this causes a bit of a rift with Ruben after he expresses this desire because he wants to go back to his old life, though things aren't as simple as that in a 'be careful what you wish for' scenario. Now we get to the subject of cochlear implants. As I learned after watching the movie, this device which is surgically implanted in an individual so they can hear sounds again is considered controversial in the deaf community. It has to do with losing individuality and expression and not embracing being dead, which according to deaf individuals is not a disability to them. And even after getting the ability to hear, it isn't as it was as evidenced from the metallic sounds (hence, the Sound of Metal). It can be viewed as a Faustian bargain to some along with not fulfilling the goals one initially hoped for. The cochlear implants can be beneficial or viewed negatively. I can see both sides of the argument. Sound of Metal is a film that is all about the concept of sound and how much of a role it plays in our lives. We take it for granted like many other things, but once it is taken away, it changes our whole perception of our lives and we become different people because of that. Some adapt quickly by compensating one way or the other, though others may have difficulty accepting this 'new normal'. This is what Ruben goes through as he tries to adapt to his new lifestyle along with trying to hold on to the past even though that has changed forever. But the movie shows that it is not always about sound itself, but to appreciate the silence that comes with it and accept yourself for who you are despite one's faults and current circumstances.
Such a great film and so glad you're talking about it. Sound design is usually something I don't pay much attention to, but here it's such an essential narrative as well as empathetic aspect. A powerful and complex expression of diversity and strength in supposed weakness.
This is a really great movie. Riz Ahmed is definitely one of my favourite modern actors. Even if he’s been acting for over a decade at this point. Interestingly, he is in a film with a fairly similar plot to this called Mogul Mowgli. I would actually argue it’s better and I highly recommend it if you like this. Great video!
I haven't seen this movie since its theatrical release, but man this review is bringing back memories and making me tear up. The "You saved my life" scene. Ugh. Painful.
This is a film I don’t think is as great as the hype I heard about it when it came out. It’s not bad, it’s competently made and the acting is good, but I just didn’t find it to be as incredible as so many others have talked about it. That’s just me and it’s completely fine if people really love it. Thank you for talking about this film though Daisuke, I hope you’re doing well. Take care!
![FendiDa Rappa - Clock Dat ft. Shamar Marco [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3NBU8KHdxYY/mqdefault.jpg)
What happens when a young man starts losing his hearing? How does the world change for him overall in terms of
his career as well as his personal life? What has he lost and what has he gained through his experiences? And is
there a certain sense of growth for the characters themselves due to these circumstances? These are some deep
questions one has to consider when watching Darius Marder's quintessential masterpiece Sound of Metal. It is a
movie that focuses on the concept of hearing loss by showing more than one side of the issue and makes one
wonder about the subject but touches deeper with other themes that show a whole other world than normal
people could possibly imagine.
The movie starts off with a young man named Ruben (Riz Ahmed) who is a part of a metal band named
Blackgammon with his girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) which has them touring the country in an RV. One day, Ruben
starts having trouble with sound and it is difficult for him to perform. He seeks out help and finds out that he has
lost most of his hearing and will need cochlear implants that could benefit him. Ruben doesn't have the money
and is desperate for options. He tries to continue performing but Lou wants him to stop for his health and worries
about him because of this new reality and the fact that he is a recovering addict. He then comes across a rural
shelter for deaf recovering addicts which is run by Hector (Paul Raci) and this jump starts a new world for Rubin.
One of the first things I noticed about the movie is the concept of change. This happens in quite a few ways in terms
of Ruben himself. His world gets thrown upside down due to his sudden hearing loss which upends his career and
causes him and his girlfriend to go on different paths. He then discovers the community for individuals like him and
he learns new things and is open to a new world where he can experience things he never thought possible, though
this isn't something he fully accepts at first, but he soon starts to appreciate the smaller things and it molds him into
a different person, going through a type of metamorphosis which is fully realized at the end.
There's also the idea of love. Something that stuck with me was the relationship between Ruben and Lou which is a
complex one at that. They both love each other and it is evident that they wouldn't be where they are in their lives if
not for that connection. But one has to wonder if being apart is better for these two considering Ruben's lifestyle at the
time. Being deaf changed that, and when we see them both together, the love is still there but it has changed
considerably. They both could arguably be in better places due to this unforeseen event. They both saved each other
but they are better off being separate for their own sakes. Love is a beautiful yet sad and strange thing.
Then there's Paul's community for addicts who are deaf. It is clear that Paul has a strong sense of purpose in his life.
He is an individual who was in Ruben's situation at one point and could have gone down an entirely different path.
Paul was able to clean up and make a difference not just in his life, but others who were in the same situation he was
in. I look at Paul as a role model/father figure who is respectable regardless of whether he agrees or disagrees with an individual. But he also displays a sense of tough love, especially with Ruben. He can be caring but also has his morals
and is set in his ways when it comes to the goal of what he is trying to do with his community. And Ruben challenges
that in terms of what he wants for himself at that moment in time.
Another important theme is the idea of addiction. We know all about Ruben being a past drug addict as well as Paul's
past life and those at the community that he cares for who are recovering. But being an addict has more than one
meaning here. It can be viewed as the love that Ruben has for Lou which has its highs and lows. But most importantly,
there is the idea of wanting to hear again which is in the back of Ruben's mind. This is something that could be viewed
as an addiction according to Paul, and this causes a bit of a rift with Ruben after he expresses this desire because he
wants to go back to his old life, though things aren't as simple as that in a 'be careful what you wish for' scenario.
Now we get to the subject of cochlear implants. As I learned after watching the movie, this device which is surgically
implanted in an individual so they can hear sounds again is considered controversial in the deaf community. It has to
do with losing individuality and expression and not embracing being dead, which according to deaf individuals is not a
disability to them. And even after getting the ability to hear, it isn't as it was as evidenced from the metallic sounds
(hence, the Sound of Metal). It can be viewed as a Faustian bargain to some along with not fulfilling the goals one
initially hoped for. The cochlear implants can be beneficial or viewed negatively. I can see both sides of the argument.
Sound of Metal is a film that is all about the concept of sound and how much of a role it plays in our lives. We take it
for granted like many other things, but once it is taken away, it changes our whole perception of our lives and we
become different people because of that. Some adapt quickly by compensating one way or the other, though others
may have difficulty accepting this 'new normal'. This is what Ruben goes through as he tries to adapt to his new lifestyle
along with trying to hold on to the past even though that has changed forever. But the movie shows that it is not always
about sound itself, but to appreciate the silence that comes with it and accept yourself for who you are despite one's
faults and current circumstances.
Brilliant as always, Stealthborn!!!
Such a great film and so glad you're talking about it. Sound design is usually something I don't pay much attention to, but here it's such an essential narrative as well as empathetic aspect. A powerful and complex expression of diversity and strength in supposed weakness.
Thank you so much my dear friend!!!
Paul Raci's Joe is one of my favorite characters and performances of 2019/20. Glad to hear you liked this movies as well!
Thank you so much and yes, I share your enthusiasm about his great performance here.
This is a really great movie. Riz Ahmed is definitely one of my favourite modern actors. Even if he’s been acting for over a decade at this point. Interestingly, he is in a film with a fairly similar plot to this called Mogul Mowgli. I would actually argue it’s better and I highly recommend it if you like this. Great video!
Thank you so much Callum my dear friend for this. Cheers and I hope you are well.
I haven't seen this movie since its theatrical release, but man this review is bringing back memories and making me tear up. The "You saved my life" scene. Ugh. Painful.
Thank you and oh yes, it is a very intense moment.
This is a film I don’t think is as great as the hype I heard about it when it came out. It’s not bad, it’s competently made and the acting is good, but I just didn’t find it to be as incredible as so many others have talked about it. That’s just me and it’s completely fine if people really love it. Thank you for talking about this film though Daisuke, I hope you’re doing well. Take care!
Thank you so much for this comment and totally OK. Cheers and warmest regards.