Sound of Metal (2019)
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A metal drummer must navigate a new reality after losing his hearing.
The story
Ruben Stone is a drummer in an avant-garde metal duo who begins to lose his hearing while touring the United States with his girlfriend, Lou. Upon receiving a diagnosis that his hearing will deteriorate rapidly, Ruben faces a choice between continuing his career and seeking treatment. While Lou urges him to stop performing for his safety and address his struggles as a recovering drug addict, Ruben remains conflicted. The couple eventually seeks help from a contact who leads them to a rural shelter for deaf recovering addicts. There, Ruben must confront his identity and the reality of his condition while navigating a community that views deafness not as a handicap.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Ruben Stone, a drummer for the metal duo Blackgammon, loses his hearing and is advised to stop performing. He and his girlfriend, Lou, visit a rural shelter for deaf recovering addicts run by Joe. Ruben eventually stays at the shelter, learns American Sign Language from a teacher named Diane, and becomes part of the community. However, he secretly uses Joe's computer to track Lou's activities and eventually sells his belongings to fund cochlear implant surgery. After the surgery, he is disappointed by the distorted sound of the implants. He travels to Paris to reunite with Lou, who has moved on with her life. During a party, he realizes they are no longer compatible. He leaves her and, while sitting in a park, removes his processors to experience a moment of true silence, finally finding the peace Joe had described.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 120
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- American Sign Language
- Directors
- Darius Marder
- Writers
- Darius Marder · story; Derek Cianfrance · story; Darius Marder · screenplay; Abraham Marder · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Riz Ahmed · Ruben Stone; Olivia Cooke · Louise "Lou" Berger; Paul Raci · Joe; Lauren Ridloff · Diane; Mathieu Amalric · Richard Berger
- Genres
- drama
- Themes
- deafness; addiction; identity; loss
- Tone and mood
- evocative; somber
- Setting
- United States, transitioning to Paris.
- Premise and plot tags
- music; disability; recovery
- Source material / true-story basis
- Metalhead
- Reception
- The film was critically acclaimed, particularly for the performances of Ahmed and Raci, the sound design, the editing, direction, and screenplay.
- Awards and nominations
- Best Picture · Academy Awards · Nominated; Best Original Screenplay · Academy Awards · Nominated; Best Actor · Academy Awards · Nominated; Best Supporting Actor · Academy Awards · Nominated; Best Sound · Academy Awards · Won; Best Film Editing · Academy Awards · Won
- Production trivia
- The film was based on an unfinished project called Metalhead.; Riz Ahmed spent eight months preparing for the role, including learning American Sign Language.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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