Sound of Metal

Darius Marder's Sound of Metal is a film that subverts expectations. At the beginning, we expect a slow and agonising descent into deafness. What instead follows is a contemplative middle act, then what feels almost like a penultimate turn in Paris. At close, the film's structure plays out almost like the Prodigal Son in reverse - the tragedy of a man who tasted paradise, but turned it down for pig feed. Only at the very end do we see any indication of regret. Some of the opening scenes could have been done better. It seems that Ahmed's Ruben only plays one song on repeat, and his bandmate's choice of a Fender Jazzmaster to perform metal seems an odd one (not very realistic). That said, there are many redeeming features. Riz Ahmed gives us an excellent performance here. As someone who grew up with extensive exposure to the deaf, and with a hearing impediment themselves, this is a film which tackles the subject delicately and gracefully. The most enrapturing part of the film is how the teacher instructs Ruben on the basics of sign language - her facial expressions! Oh!