Embracing the Scream of Silence: A Journey Through Sound of Metal

Sound of Metal shares the story of “the scream of silence.” Imagine pouring your heart and soul into something, only to have your heart ripped away by a small obstacle. However, this is no small obstacle; it is a major problem that makes you give up everything you have worked for. It is heartbreaking, but there is more to it than that. This struggle shows that sometimes, the only way to be free is through something you enjoy.

When you are in a personal battle to improve yourself, and suddenly everything is stripped away, it hits hard. Sound of Metal has been hailed as one of the best films since its premiere at the 2019 Toronto Film Festival. It hit theaters on August 14, 2020, and then was released on Amazon Prime Video on December 4. This film marks the feature debut of Darius Marder, who co-wrote the script with his brother, Abraham Marder, and it tackles important issues surrounding disabilities, especially for the deaf community.

The story features Riz Ahmed as Ruben, a metal drummer who suddenly goes deaf. For a musician, hearing is everything, and this loss frustrates Ruben. Sound of Metal really depicts the silence and what it is like to be deaf. Ruben, who is a drummer in a metal band, is playing with his girlfriend, Lou.

They lived in a minibus while touring the city. For Ruben, metal and drum music were not his pleasure; they were his way of fighting his drug addiction. Loud music and street life became his new normal. However, it all came at a high price. He had to deal with the damage the noise caused, and slowly, he began to go deaf. As he tried to create a quiet life, Ruben felt like a child lost in the woods—helpless and exposed, with drugs ready to drag him back.

Sound of Metal is a human drama by Darius Marder that explores the “shouts of silence.” It is not just about a guy who loses his hearing; it is about learning to listen differently. It is about accepting loss, which is a tough journey for Ruben. This film resonates deeply, especially with the deaf community, making it one of the most personal stories out there.

When the main character changes, he quickly loses his bearings. This movie could be a drama. Sound of Metal makes you want to grab a tissue. It is like a soap opera in which the main character suddenly becomes “blind,” but in the end, he does not know how to see things in a new way.

From the beginning, he cries out to God, begs for healing, and thanks God when he does. While that is not a bad thing, it seems like he—and the audience—do not really learn much from it at the end, except that it was a test from God. Sound of Metal skips these tropes and instead highlights its own special “scream of silence.”

The film introduces these themes symbolically but also personally, especially for the author, who has experienced deafness or substantial challenges. This kind of story is very touching because it shows that the main character and the audience can learn that this is all part of knowledge. Sound of Metal does not play with emotions; it paints a picture of human feelings related to the characters.

In a minimalist way, it lets the audience experience firsthand what hearing loss feels like.

Darius Marder goes beyond just the basics, transforming the story into one of respect and humanity for the protagonist, Ruben. He describes the film as a character study that offers exciting perspectives for the audience. It helps viewers empathize with Ruben and all the characters, allowing them to feel what Ruben experiences through clever sound design.

When Ruben struggles to hear, the emptiness he feels pulls the audience into his perspective. It is not just about a ringing sound or complete silence; Marder does not manipulate emotions through the absence of sound but tells a story through that silence. The flow is good, with rock music playing in the background before it goes silent.

It really makes you want to listen to it, but not from Ruben’s perspective. When things get heated, it grabs everyone’s attention. When Ruben starts to get desperate or has to make a decision, the voices come back into play. Rather than just giving him hearing aids or having his friends use them, the film shows how he connects with others on a deeper level.

The conflict really heats up in the middle of the story, focusing on personal healing and coping, even when it feels like there is no way to fix things.

The second half of the film is a critical turning point, as Ruben finds himself in a deaf community. For him, it becomes a place to heal and get used to a life without sound. The audience gets to see scenes where the community teaches Ruben everything he needs to know. As he builds relationships with the members, he meets many people like himself and watches deaf children learn to communicate, which inspires him to learn sign language, too.

Ruben’s rehab looks friendly and calming, but he feels the opposite. At this point, he still has not reconciled or accepted his situation. He believes he can recover from his deafness just like he can recover from his drug addiction. Interestingly, Marder makes the point that deafness is not a disease that needs to be cured. Instead, it is just another way of living and learning, which hits Ruben hard.

Hearing loss doesn’t mean losing your life; it’s just about living differently. The community’s passivity highlights the “shouts of silence” in Sound of Metal.

The screenwriter charts the main character’s life from childhood to the present, which helps shape the story. This background enhances the character’s growth and makes it easier for the audience to relate to them.

Ruben’s background is part of the conflict. Marder shares this background without slowing down the film or making it feel cluttered. He helps the audience understand why being a rock drummer is important to Ruben. The significance of his relationship with Lou and Lou’s role in his life is also part of the story.

These elements are combined in the story, making the film as a whole really solid.

On the other hand, Riz Ahmed brings Ruben to life as a character who is cheerful but not over the top. The story delves into difficult personal and emotional struggles, and Ruben is up against a lot. Ahmed has to find a balance for his character’s feelings, highlighting the drama of his hearing loss while being realistic about being human.

Ahmed really gets into Ruben’s shoes and shows empathy for every decision he makes, whether it is insisting on getting money for surgery or choosing to leave the community to go back to Lou. Darius Marder does not want Ruben to come off as someone who just wants pity, nor does he want him to seem like a perfect figure. What Ahmed does is play with emotions to make it all feel real.

He draws the audience into Ruben’s reactions as he struggles to accept the reality of hearing and silence. The characters are not portrayed as rude or obnoxious.

Even so, Ruben still feels emotional turmoil and anger, which makes it hard for him to accept his situation. Ahmed uses body language and eye movements, especially when he is observing the community around him, to fully convey Ruben’s journey. By the end of the film, which has one of the most powerful conclusions, it offers encouragement and inspiration about finding peace with reality and being grateful for life’s continuation. With its sound design, direction, and acting performances, Sound of Metal presents its characters as complex individuals rather than just objects of suffering.

The film becomes more than just a story about people losing their senses. It brings the audience into relatable and human issues, respectfully depicting how complex and necessary it is to accept one’s situation. While it is a heavy film for some, Sound of Metal explores the difficult inner journey of its main character. The goal is to create depth through character conflicts, not to hinder the viewing experience.

References

• Marder, D. (Director). (2020). Sound of Metal [Film]. Amazon Studios.
• Toronto International Film Festival. (2019). Sound of Metal premieres at TIFF 2019.