Sound of Metal
Director: Darius Marder
2019
29 December 2024
See
Reuben (Riz Ahmed) a heavy metal drummer and his singer girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) are musicians together on the move in their R.V. He is fastidious and regimented, but when he loses his hearing their happy life together comes to a halt, or to mix metaphors, the wheels come off. It’s revealed Reuben is an addict, and has been clean for four years, as long as he and Lou have been together.
Think
Reuben checks in to a clinic for the deaf community, there’s also a program for addicts run by Joe (Paul Raci) a compassionate man who mentors Reuben through this trying time. Without sound, heroin or Lou. Seeing him start to change around deaf children was beautiful.
Most importantly Joe helps Reuben with his restlessness, to find a routine of fixing his way of thinking and being rather than hearing. The early morning journaling spoke to me the sweetest. Because it’s not only what Reuben learns, and Joe practices, but I do too. Through this film I understand it’s searching for a stillness that’ll never abandon you.
Paul Raci is a revelation, he’s a coder, meaning he’s culturally deaf, and so can hear and sign.
Feel
I feel it all. Just not overwhelmed this time on the second or third viewing. But moved. And observant of Reuben, and his want of a quick fix for a long term problem. It’s crushing watching him scramble for something to hold on to. A surgery to resolve the issue. But will that be the answer? Is it getting back to Lou? What if she’s changed? What if he’s changed? If so, for the better.
Epilogue: Spoilers. Watching how Reuben handles the break up with Lou is the kind of calmness and composure as well as gratitude we should all hope to get to. Try, fail, more than once. Trying again for a different result. I hope Reuben goes forward. Into the unknown. I believe Darius Marder knows the way and so does Derek Cianfrance, who hasn’t missed the mark for me with his heartfelt films. The Place Beyond the Pines is my favourite movie. And I love that they worked together on that. And this. Also Darius brought in his brother Abraham to cowrite and score. The sound design is sublime. Coincidentally I tried to encourage my brother to watch party this film with me before I knew that. I wonder if he will in the next two or three weeks.
