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"Sound of Metal"
Apr. 24th, 2021 07:00 pmSound of Metal
I loved this story about a heavy-metal drummer who suddenly loses his hearing. Riz Ahmed plays Ruben, a young man in recovery who lives in an RV with his girlfriend Lou. Together they tour and play shows that involve extremely loud screaming noises. His hearing loss is shown in intense, harrowing detail; as a musician it's especially upsetting to him. Ruben enters a rehab facility for Deaf addicts; his job there is "learn how to be Deaf." This involves ASL language immersion, journaling, and being isolated from the outside world.
I haven't read a lot of criticism of this film yet, to know how it stands with regards to Deaf politics and realism. Pop Culture Happy Hour discussed the film and they all recommended it. One of their criticisms is that is shows things in false binaries: either you're entirely in Deaf community, or entirely out of it, for example. My main complaint was that in one key emotional scene, the camera focuses in on the actor's faces, and away from their hands, which are signing. This was a frustrating choice that really made the film seem like it was edited or directed by and for hearing people.
The acting and writing are particularly strong in this film. Riz Ahmed has these big expressive eyes! The sound design is also amazing, and seems geared towards giving hearing audiences a taste of Ruben's experiences. This is a brilliant, very emotional film, and I recommend it, with the caveat that I am a hearing viewer and am unsure how Deaf audience members will react to it. I appreciated that there is a butch lesbian character. :)
I loved this story about a heavy-metal drummer who suddenly loses his hearing. Riz Ahmed plays Ruben, a young man in recovery who lives in an RV with his girlfriend Lou. Together they tour and play shows that involve extremely loud screaming noises. His hearing loss is shown in intense, harrowing detail; as a musician it's especially upsetting to him. Ruben enters a rehab facility for Deaf addicts; his job there is "learn how to be Deaf." This involves ASL language immersion, journaling, and being isolated from the outside world.
I haven't read a lot of criticism of this film yet, to know how it stands with regards to Deaf politics and realism. Pop Culture Happy Hour discussed the film and they all recommended it. One of their criticisms is that is shows things in false binaries: either you're entirely in Deaf community, or entirely out of it, for example. My main complaint was that in one key emotional scene, the camera focuses in on the actor's faces, and away from their hands, which are signing. This was a frustrating choice that really made the film seem like it was edited or directed by and for hearing people.
The acting and writing are particularly strong in this film. Riz Ahmed has these big expressive eyes! The sound design is also amazing, and seems geared towards giving hearing audiences a taste of Ruben's experiences. This is a brilliant, very emotional film, and I recommend it, with the caveat that I am a hearing viewer and am unsure how Deaf audience members will react to it. I appreciated that there is a butch lesbian character. :)
