Silence in The Sound of Metal
Ruben (played by an excellent Riz Ahmed) is a drummer in a heavy metal band. His girlfriend Lou, who is also the lead singer, lives with him in an RV that they use to travel and record music. Everything they own is in this vehicle. All their hopes and plans rest on the sounds they create. Then one day those sounds disappear for Ruben. The ferocious screams of his soulmate and the sharp clangs of his greatest gift become nothing but muffled noises.
In Darius Marder’s feature film debut, he gives the deaf community a spotlight that is long past due. Not only does he give opportunities to deaf actors and actresses, but he also tells a story that offers a look into the complexities of the deaf community that many would never bother to learn.
Joe: Ruben. As you know, everybody here shares in the belief that being deaf is not a handicap. Not something to fix. It's pretty important around here. All these kids... all of us, need to be reminded of it every day.
This concept that deafness is not meant to be fixed is a foreign concept to me. The viewer is placed directly in Ruben’s shoes. If we were to suddenly lose our hearing, wouldn’t we do everything in our power to get it back? Actor Paul Raci’s* character Joe (a role which should land him Best Supporting Actor) offers a counter-argument to Ruben: What if being deaf isn’t a handicap, but just a different way of living? The film follows Ruben on this journey to discover a world without sound. A world that to Ruben, pails in comparison to the world cochlear implants promise to offer. These implants will require Ruben to give up everything simply for the chance of having the life he always envisioned for Lou and himself.
The sound design in Sound of Metal is stunning. It allows the audience to have just a taste of what the world can feel like from a deaf person’s point of view. It’s a shoo-in for Best Sound Mixing/Design.
There are two key scenes that separately, are two of the most powerful moments captured on film this year, and together they take the cake. In a climactic moment between Joe and Ruben, in which Joe explains why he doesn’t see his blindness as a handicap, he speaks to the power of finding stillness.
Ruben: Like, what does it matter? What does it matter? It just passes. Yo. If I disappear, like, who cares? Nobody cares, man. Seriously. Yo, and that's okay. That's life. That's life. No, for real. Okay? It just passes. It just f*****g... f*****g passes.
Joe: I wonder, uh, all these mornings you've been sitting in my study, sitting, have you had any moments of stillness? Because you're right, Ruben. The world does keep moving, and it can be a damn cruel place. But for me, those moments of stillness, that place, that's the kingdom of God.
Ruben seems close to understanding this concept, but not quite there yet. Not until a beautiful moment, sitting in a park does Ruben finally understand what Joe was talking about in their previous meeting.
These moments of stillness are ones that we should seek out. These moments that seem to bring heaven and earth a bit closer. Watching this film I was reminded of a fitting hymn:
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well-pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.
And perhaps this should point us towards a powerful reminder for the end of 2020:
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm 46:10
*Paul Raci grew up with two deaf parents. Check out a fascinating interview with him here.