Sound of Metal 2019

Non spoiler thoughts (summary): The film turns sound into emotion. Instead of just watching a character lose hearing, it becomes more about control, denial, and learning to stop fighting reality. What hits me is how acceptance is not immediate. I see someone trying to adapt on the surface while secretly chasing the past underneath. The story works as a portrait of identity crisis, where peace only arrives when the need to restore the old self finally lets go. ⚠️ Spoilers ahead. From here on, plot details are discussed. Read on if you’ve seen the film. If not, save this post and come back after. ⚠️ Parang yung hearing problem ni Jack sa A Star Is Born, but here it becomes the entire world of the film. The sound design technique reminds me of CODA in the way it shifts perspective, but this one forces me to experience the distortion, the ringing, the sudden silence. The audio cuts are not just effects, they become emotional tools that put me inside Ruben’s panic. I can see panic and fear clearly on Riz Ahmed’s face. He really is a great actor. The story does not hesitate, it presents the problem right away. There is no slow build up to the loss of hearing. It just happens and I immediately feel how fragile everything is. I end up feeling so grateful that I can hear. Olivia Cooke is also strong here. I feel her confusion and fear about their new reality. It is also nice to see Lauren Ridloff from Eternals. She adds authenticity and warmth to the deaf community scenes. The film is mostly quiet while showing growing frustration and anger. I watch him resist the reality, pretend to adapt, then secretly cling to hope that it can be fixed. When the story becomes warmer and he seems to accept his condition, I realize it is only partial acceptance. Deep inside he still wants his old life back, and I cannot blame him. His passion and livelihood are tied to sound. What makes it sad is that he never fully absorbs the essence of the deaf community before choosing surgery. When the implant does not give him the clarity he expected, it feels like another loss. In the final moment when he removes the processors and sits in pure silence, I interpret it as the first time he truly chooses stillness. To me that is when he finds peace.