Sound of Metal 2019

Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed) is the drummer for a heavy metal band called Blackgammon, which features his girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) as the lead singer and guitarist. Together, they live a nomadic lifestyle, traveling in an RV from one gig to another, immersed in their passion for music and their shared dreams. Their life on the road is full of energy and noise, but Ruben’s world begins to change when he starts experiencing frequent ringing in his ears, which gradually worsens into muffled sounds, as if his ears are clogged.

Concerned, Ruben goes to see a doctor where test results reveal alarming news: his hearing has been reduced to only 24 and 28 percent in each ear. The doctor warns him that his hearing loss is permanent and advises him to avoid all loud noises immediately, while running further tests to determine the extent of the damage and potential options for treatment. The doctor discusses the possibility of a cochlear implant that could cost between forty and eighty thousand dollars, emphasizing that the hearing loss itself is irreversible. He urges Ruben to work on protecting the remaining hearing he has, which shocks Ruben and begins to force him to confront a harsh new reality.

Despite hearing the diagnosis, Ruben decides to perform with Lou at their next gig, where his condition worsens dramatically, leading him to abruptly stop playing, unable to hear any of the sounds around him, and fleeing the stage in panic. Lou rushes after him, distressed, and Ruben tries to explain his situation, insisting that getting an implant will restore his hearing and that he can continue their tour. Lou, worried about his safety, refuses to go along, citing concerns about the noise and Ruben’s health. She contacts Ruben’s sponsor—someone involved in his recovery from drug addiction—to find him help, but Ruben’s hearing loss renders communication impossible at that moment. The sponsor arranges for Ruben to go to a a sober community for deaf individuals, hoping he will learn sign language and adapt to his new circumstances.

Ruben’s attempts to resist the help are strong; he refuses to stay at the community, insisting he is fine and that he just needs the implant to resume normal life. However, Lou and Joe (Paul Raci), a deaf man and veteran who runs the program, believe he needs support. Joe communicates with Ruben through a computer translator and shares his own story of losing his hearing in Vietnam, which helps Ruben realize his situation is serious. Joe offers Ruben a chance to learn sign language and live at the community permanently, but Ruben is reluctant. He insists he can manage on his own while watching Lou perform solo shows, which makes him feel distant and disconnected from his past life.

As Ruben struggles with this new identity, he secretly reads an email from Lou and sneaks onto her computer, learning about her ongoing performances. Driven by a desire to reclaim his music, he decides to sell his equipment, including his beloved drums, to fund his cochlear implant surgery. He even sells the RV, but with a promise to the buyer that he might buy it back within eight weeks. The surgery on his ears results in complete silence while the device is being activated, leaving Ruben in a state of anticipation and uncertainty about what sounds will be like once turned on.

When the cochlear implant is finally activated, Ruben hears a brand-new, distorted world—sounds are distant, metallic, and full of static. This new auditory experience is overwhelming and disappointing, as it doesn’t match the vibrant, familiar sounds he once knew. The doctor advises him to take it easy and adjust gradually. Ruben then travels to Paris, where Lou is living—hoping to surprise her. However, Lou’s father, Richard (Mathieu Amalric), a songwriter, welcomes Ruben into his home and shares insights about Lou’s childhood and her struggles after her mother’s death. The loud, lively party that night becomes almost unbearable for Ruben, whose auditory system is still adjusting, and he quietly withdraws into himself, listening to the distorted music Richard plays on the piano.

Ruben’s desire to return to life on the road conflicts with the understanding that his new hearing may never be fully restored to its previous clarity. He confesses to Lou that he wants to resume touring, but she is hesitant, sensing the emotional toll it might take on both of them. Their relationship reaches an emotional climax as they realize that their time together has come to an end—affirming that they have saved each other in their own ways but must now go separate paths. They share a tearful farewell, acknowledging the pain and the beauty of their connection.

In the end, Ruben walks through Paris, sitting peacefully in a park and listening to the chimes of the bells. He removes his cochlear implant device, embracing the silence he once feared losing, and finds a moment of serenity in that pure, untouched quiet. His journey reflects the profound struggle between the desire for normalcy and acceptance, highlighting themes of loss, recovery, and the search for peace within oneself.