SOUND OF METAL
US, 2020, 120 minutes, Colour.
Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Mathieu Amalric.
Directed by Darius Marder.
The title and the poster seemed to indicate that this is a film about music, heavy metal. And, for the first 10 minutes or so, it is (a quite different Sound of Music). If you are not a fan, then be prepared to endure high-volume, incessant drumming, hard rock singing but, for the rest of the film, it is worth it.
If you see the version with subtitles, and this is recommended by the filmmakers, you will realise that it is a reminder that not everyone has good hearing, that many others have no hearing, have a reliance on sign language, lipreading, subtitles for dialogue and descriptions of action…
Riz Ahmed is a musician and singer, rap singer, so knows the music world and music touring and concerts well. Here he plays Ruben, an intense drummer, working with his partner, Lou (British Olivia Cooke), both of them with drug histories but each of them somehow rather saving the other. They are planning a tour.
But then, the screenplay turns to hearing and loss of hearing, Ruben surprised, bewildered, then shocked, refusing at first to face the reality, but then having to deal with his diminishing capacity for hearing. There is the ability for an implant, something which seems beyond his financial means.
Ruben and Lou find a Centre for profoundly deaf people, run by a deaf man who is able to speak (as Ruben still is), their meetings reminding us that there is technology for speaking to be printed out on a computer screen for deaf people to read. The manager of the Centre is Joe, a sympathetic performance from Paul Raci. Eventually, Ruben is persuaded by Lou to stay at the Centre while she goes on tour.
A hearing audience will identify with Ruben and experience the shock of his deterioration of hearing. At the Centre, there are group meetings as those present, men and women, have been drug addicts. But Ruben also discovers some of the genial members of the group, especially a young woman, Diane, who works with children – Ruben actually doing a lesson about drumming with them. And Ruben has to learn sign language to communicate.
But, he has to make a decision about the implant, deciding to sell his music equipment and the trailer in which he and Lou live, but trying to do a deal that when he gets money to buy it back. And he undergoes the surgery for the implant.
This creates an unexpected crisis for him at the Centre and Joe explaining that he cannot stay there because it is a Centre for those who accept their deafness and want to build their life on that basis. Joe advocates some relishing of the silence.
Lou has originally come from Europe and is now staying with her father, French actor, Mathieu Amalric, in Belgium. The only thing for Ruben to do is to go to visit her, meet her father (who is actually welcoming though initially disapproving, glad that Ruben had saved Lou’s life). Ruben is happy to be reunited with Lou, but it becomes decision time for him, especially as he sits on a bench in the street, experiencing sound, experiencing silence.
1. Title? Expectations? Music? Heavy metal? The opening, the music, the drumming, the high-volume sound? The singing?
2. The use of subtitles, of speech, of sound, descriptions? For the hearing audience? For their consciousness of the responses of the hearing impaired?
3. The American setting, concert tours and venues, living in the trailer and its interiors, doctors and hospitals, the Centre for the hearing impaired, the grounds, the meeting rooms, personal rooms? The contrast with going to Europe, Belgium, the city, the streets, homes, the celebration?
4. The musical score, heavy metal, performances, quieter songs, the French song?
5. Ruben, his appearance, intensity, drums and performance? Lou and her singing? The venue, the audience? The loud music? Ruben and his ambitions, preparing the tour? Relationship with Lou, four years, his past, addiction, getting clean, Lou and her background, the itch on her arm, each helping the other?
6. Ruben, the difficulties with hearing, distortion, lessening volume? Playing nonetheless? The talk with Lou? His intensity, wanting the tour? His experience of the hearing loss? The consultation, the explanation, possibilities for surgery, implant, the cost? His determination?
7. Interactions with Lou, the meeting with Joe, the centre, communication? Joe, no hearing, able to speak, Ruben able to speak, computers able to spell out the speech?
8. Ruben, Joe, the group, the introductions, the range of people at the centre, fellowship, helping others, Diane and the children? Ruben and his reaction, difficulties with sign language, conflict, leaving? Lou urging him to go back? Seeing her off on the tour?
9. Ruben, his place at the centre, interactions with Joe, with the various people, the children and the drums, the sign language, his learning, communicating?
10. His decision to get the implant, the deal for selling the band, selling the equipment? The doctor, the interviews, the surgery, the time needed to get used to it, going back, turning on the implant, the distortions, the high pitch, the adjustments? His getting used to it?
11. The return to Joe, the difficulties with money, Joe explaining that deafness was not something that had to be got over, but lived with, making a full life? Ousting Ruben, going to a motel, decisions?
12. His going to Belgium, finding Richard’s house, Richard and his welcoming him, explanations of his dislike of Ruben in the past, Richard losing Lou, his wife killing herself, Lou in America, realising that Ruben had rescued her? The preparations for the party? Lou returning, the conversation, their love for each other? Lou’s reaction and Ruben’s interpretation?
13. Ruben, packing and leaving, sitting in the street, the sounds, turning off his implant, the silence, remembering Joe’s words about silence and how important it was, the close-up, the film ending? His future?
