Movie Review: ‘Sound of Metal’

The sound is deafening. Ruben (Riz Ahmed) is mercilessly pounding on drums while Lou (Olivia Cooke) screams unintelligible noise into a microphone. The duo is appearing at a club. Not surprisingly, at the close of the performance, he has trouble hearing her as they drag their equipment to the mobile home they live in and use to move from gig to gig.

He’s mildly concerned the next day when he still can barely hear her. Days later he’s more alarmed when his hearing hasn’t improved. He decides to visit an audiologist.

After reviewing his test results the doctor explains that he has permanent hearing loss that will continue to deteriorate until he becomes deaf – stay away from loud noises she says. And yes, she continues, there is a corrective surgery but it’s costly, not covered by insurance nor guaranteed to restore normal hearing. She suggests visiting a nearby home/community for the deaf – ask for Joe.

Joe (Paul Raci), the director of this facility, welcomes Ruben and Lou. He takes Ruben aside to explain that the focus of this facility is to help the deaf learn sign, adjust to living in a new silent world and find peace and acceptance from within. The rules for living here are simple, no mobile phones, cars or partners – even one of four years such as Lou.

Ruben is reluctant to agree, but Lou helps by deciding to go and live with her father in Belgium. Now silent and alone, Ruben begins to adjust and learn. In spite of having given up his heroin addiction, he is encouraged to attend a support group. He is also required to sit alone in a room each day to write, write, write in a book which will help him to find calm and inner peace.

The first smile that comes to Ruben’s face is when he attends a children’s sign class. He is accepted into the group, learns quickly and is finally able to communicate with others. His ability as a drummer is useful when he’s asked to teach the students the basics of drumming–more smiles on his face.

The daily journal writing has some positive effects on his outlook, but the thought of the implant surgery lingers. Finally succumbing to this idea, he sells his audio equipment and the mobile home and has the surgery. It is moderately successful as he can hear some things, just not as they had previously sounded. Encouraged by his regained hearing, he heads for Belgium to reunite with Lou and continue their tours and recording sessions.

At a dinner party celebrating her father’s birthday, her father asks Lou to sing a song he wrote for her mother while he accompanies her on the piano. She reluctantly agrees. Ruben stands quietly in the corner listening to the best of his ability. The sounds he hears are garbled and not her beautiful voice that he so fondly remembers.

The next morning, before anyone awakens, he packs his bag and slips out the front door. Sitting on a bus bench he hears a noise. Looking up he sees the offensive, distorted sound is coming from the bell tower of a nearby church. He yanks the cochlear implants from his head. A look of calm appears on his face.

Directed by Darius Marder (credits: Loot, The Place Beyond the Pines) the Sound of Metal runs 120 minutes and is a “should see” production.

johan@beachcomber.news