Sound of Metal
Overview
Sound of Metal is a 2019 drama film directed by Darius Marder, starring Riz Ahmed as Ruben, a heavy-metal drummer who begins to lose his hearing. The film is a powerful, immersive, and heartbreaking exploration of deafness, addiction, and the search for identity. Ruben is a drummer in a punk-metal duo with his girlfriend, Lou (Olivia Cooke). He is also a recovering heroin addict. He suddenly begins to lose his hearing, and he is told that he will be completely deaf within weeks. He is offered a spot in a deaf community, where he can learn sign language and accept his deafness. He struggles to accept his new reality, and he tries to get a cochlear implant. He gets the implant, but it does not work as he hoped. The sounds are distorted and painful. He finally accepts his deafness, and he returns to the deaf community. The film is notable for its sound design, which puts the audience in Ruben's perspective. We hear what he hears: muffled sounds, distorted noises, and eventually, silence. Riz Ahmed delivers a stunning, Oscar-nominated performance. Sound of Metal won two Academy Awards for Best Sound and Best Film Editing. The film is a masterpiece of sensory storytelling and a powerful meditation on what it means to be human.
