[18. Wednesday Movie Review] "Sound of Metal" ~What It Means to Hear~
※This review touches upon the subject of Deaf people. Consequently, there may be unintentional expressions or descriptions that could be hurtful to the Deaf community. If so, please point them out in the comments.
|"Sound of Metal" is an Amazon Prime original film that has been available since last year.
It is nominated in six categories at this year's Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor.
Synopsis
Drummer Ruben Stone was active in a band with his girlfriend, Lou. One day, Ruben noticed that his hearing was deteriorating. Upon visiting a specialist just in case, it was discovered that Ruben was in a state where he could lose his hearing at any moment. Ruben immediately began treatment, but his condition worsened rapidly. Desperate and self-destructive, Ruben was introduced to a self-help group for the hearing impaired by an acquaintance who was concerned about him. Through his interactions with them, Ruben gradually began to find hope for living.
The fear of losing, and the courage to accept
For musicians who perform amidst loud volumes and sounds, having hearing problems is a constant risk. It is a fatal injury that could end an artist's career, and the two are inextricably linked. However, for those involved, it is an unacceptable reality, and they are struck by the immense fear that they "might never be able to play music again."
This aspect was also seen in the 2018 hit film "A Star Is Born."
Jackson, played by Bradley Cooper, suffered from hearing problems as a result of performing in the loud volume of rock music for many years. Despite this, he avoided facing the reality, escaped into alcohol and drugs, and what was ultimately depicted in the film was a tragic ending.
And the protagonist of this film, Ruben, also fiercely rejects losing his hearing and tries to find a way to recover. However...
"The lost hearing will not return.
What you should think about now is maintaining the hearing you have left."
These are the words of the doctor who appears in the film. These words weighed heavily on Ruben.
He ends up living with the self-help group for the Deaf that he was introduced to. Through life there, Ruben gradually comes to accept the loss of his hearing.
"Hearing will not return." Instead of running away from that fact, by courageously accepting that reality, one can take a new step forward. I felt such a strong message in that.
Earphones recommended
In addition to the story, the appeal of this film is the sound. There are many scenes that unfold with sound centered on Ruben's ears, and the sounds he hears are represented as very muffled noise. Perhaps having the audience experience this simulation throughout the film is the greatest aim of this work.
The sound has actually been highly acclaimed, winning the Best Sound award (formerly Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing) at the British Academy Film Awards announced the other day. It is also likely to be the top contender in the same category at the US Academy Awards.
For those who will watch it on Amazon Prime, I strongly recommend using earphones on a PC or similar device rather than watching it on a TV. I think you will be able to enjoy the sound in a way that is "unique to streaming movies."
What it means to hear
Finally, I would like to touch upon the Japanese title of this film, "Sound of Metal -What It Means to Hear-." I generally dislike the culture of adding extra subtitles to Japanese titles, but I quite like this one. This is because this subtitle "What It Means to Hear" makes you think deeply after watching the film.
Ruben, who seemed to have gradually accepted living as a deaf person as a result of his life in a support group for the hearing impaired. However, unable to wipe away his attachment to music, he makes a major decision at the end of the story.
I think that after watching such a climax, you will understand the brilliance of this subtitle.
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In the next article, I will be talking about this year's Academy Award Best Picture nominee |"The Trial of Chicago 7".