Sound of Metal tells the story of an avant-garde metal drummer
who slowly begins to lose his hearing.
Riz Ahmed through just his eyes
conveys a variety of emotions
that Reuben is going through
and carries the film with an honest, sincere performance.
The brilliant sound built by Nicholas Becker
puts us in the shoes of the character
as he goes from a stage of normal hearing
to a complete void
and as he transitions from a phase of anxiety and frustration
to a dawn of hope and submission.
Interestingly, it's just not through sound design
that Becker creates the overall sound,
there is a metallic instrument called baschet
that features in the film as well.
This instrument used by many experimental composers over the years
replicates what happens when sound causes the eardrum to vibrate.
Alright! Let's have a look at some themes that the film looks to explore—
Along with his hearing, Reuben loses his identity—
a hipster life as a performing musician
in an emerging band with a singer/loving girlfriend.
His whole life turns upside down.
Rueben and Lou visit a retreat centre for the hearing impaired
run by Joe,
who tells them that Reuben, as a member,
ought to stay on his own, separate from the outside world.
Reuben is anxious
but as Lou leaves,
she persuades him to spend some time in the centre.
Reuben begins to learn sign language
and mingle with other members of the community—
giving them basic drumming lessons
and engaging with the children.
In the process, he observes that the people here are happy and carefree;
to them, deafness is not a handicap;
it's not something to be fixed.
However, the idea of regaining his full hearing
is still at the back of his mind
as he faces an identity crisis.
On one occasion,
Reuben is trying to fix a roof
when he gets interrupted by Joe,
who indicates him to stop immediately.
He tells Reuben that there’s absolutely nothing to be “fixed” in this centre.
Reuben is fighting his new normal and new identity.
Reuben wants to go back to his old days—
playing drums, with Lou on the mic
and listen to the Sound of Metal.
He undergoes surgery,
thinking it's a definite answer to all his problems.
However, he is completely shattered
when he realizes
that he can never have the same sense of hearing again.
The title Sound of Metal actually refers
to the distorted, metallic sounds that Reuben hears
because of those cochlear implants that limit his hearing.
Reuben travels to France to meet Lou
and notices how much she has changed
in the little time he was away.
At the house party,
Reuben listens to Lou and her dad performing a duet
but he is not able to fully enjoy the song due to the implants.
Later that evening,
as Reuben discusses the possibility of getting back in the groove—
touring and playing music again—
he notices Lou getting anxious
and realizes it's time for them to part ways.
Both of them, in an emotional outpour,
thank each other for the time they spent together
and for saving each other’s lives.
Reuben understands that there’s no way he can get his past back.
He has got to accept and embrace change.
As Joe explains to Reuben in their very first meeting—
the key is to look for a solution to the mind,
and not the ears.
Joe keeps talking about achieving moments of stillness—
just sitting still without a single cloud of thought.
Reuben finds it funny initially
but as the days pass,
he slowly begins to get used to the idea.
When asked to consider staying and working at the centre
since he has now become important to a lot of people here,
Reuben is confused.
The thought of Lou strikes him.
In the retreat centre,
Rueben frequently checks on Lou
to see what she is up to,
and on this occasion,
when he discovers that she has gone solo
and is trying out her own music in Paris,
he is apprehensive
that in both life and music,
she will soon move on without him.
This thought combined with his own identity crisis
provokes him to carry out the surgery.
However, he gets a reality check soon.
Music can never sound the same to him again.
As Reuben realizes that he is standing between Lou and her future,
he decides to let go of his love.
He knows sooner or later,
Lou will break
and it would be selfish of him to hold onto her till that point.
While Lou is still asleep,
Ruben leaves without a word.
Bothered by loud, distorted city noise
that culminates with the sound of a metallic bell,
Reuben removes his implants,
possibly one final time.
He sits in silence
and observes his surroundings.
Reuben has cracked the code to stillness.
He has found a new side of himself—
one that is not fixated on the past.
For him, the sense of connection and belonging
he found with other members in the retreat centre is enough.
Joe’s words sink in as well—
deafness is not a disability
but a way of living.
Reuben shall perhaps,
head back to his new home now.