Review of Sound of Metal
midlandsmovies • April 28, 2021
Sound of Metal (2021) Dir. Darius Marder
Sound of Metal took home the Oscar for Best Sound this week and deservedly so. As a hearing impaired viewer it was quite something to listen to the distorted, muffled conversations that Ruben (Riz Ahmed) experiences as his hearing (very rapidly) deteriorates, along with high pitched ringing and droning tones.
As the sound dips in and out the audience are left as confused and disorientated as Ruben as they experience first hand what it is to try and navigate your way through a hearing world.
Riz Ahmed (Best Actor nominee) does a brilliant job of capturing the frustrations and confusion of trying to live with hearing loss. Sharing his life and Airstream with loving girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke), Ruben’s life starts to fall apart as he realises that he is struggling to hear. He is unable to continue in his role as a drummer in Lou’s band and is quickly unable to hold a telephone conversation.
There is so much that is done right in this film in its representation of hearing loss. The scene in the diner as Ruben’s sense of helplessness at being unable to hear the person on the other end of the phone erupts in a frustrated sarcastic monologue is something I often experience.
The same goes for the scene in the pharmacy when again through the clever use of sound the audience get to hear what hearing impaired people don’t hear when we go into a busy shop. However, there’s also so much about the content of this film that left me feeling a bit bemused.
There has been a lot of noise on social media about the important message the film gives us. The message I got, unfortunately, was that the onset of hearing loss will leave you isolated regardless of the choices you make.
There is an overriding sense from very early on in this film that hearing loss means you have to surrender all that you hold dear in a normal life (career, relationship) and it’s simply not true. Am I supposed to feel like Ruben has got his ‘just desserts’ in those closing moments for not completing his assignment set by retreat leader Joe, to ‘learn to be deaf’? As he unplugs his implant and absorbs the silence am I supposed to feel that this is what he should have done all along?
Ruben isn’t offered hearing aids for some reason in this film, maybe his loss was too profound for them but that perhaps should have been briefly explained away. Instead the audience is told the very scary tale of rapid hearing loss with no alternative to an implant and no positive outcome for the protagonist.
Despite its issues, I did enjoy The Sound of Metal on the whole. The performances are excellent, the relationship between Ruben and Lou felt authentic and when she leaves him in the parking lot it’s a genuine lump in throat moment. Also excellent was Paul Raci’s intense portrayal of the unflinching Joe.
It was interesting to share the film with a hearing person and see their reactions to what the world sounds like for me much of the time. I do think anything that raises awareness about hearing loss is a good thing, particularly in today’s world where hearing impaired lip readers face further challenges due to the necessity for face coverings.
SPOILER
The final scene
for me was particularly hard to stomach. Ruben having made the decision to have a Cochlear Implant is left sitting alone on a bench, ostracised from the Deaf Community for not accepting his hearing loss and also unable to integrate in a hearing world due to the hugely distorted sounds created by his new hearing device. I just didn’t want Ruben sat alone on that bench at the end, unhearing with seemingly nothing to look forward to in life.
Karen Stevens
For more help on hearing loss contact https://rnid.org.uk/
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Pete Key, Jai Blanks and Jacob Christie for Countenance Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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