Sound of Metal

Ruben Stone is a hard driving metal drummer whose life flips in an instant when the world goes quiet around him. As hearing fades, he faces a future where the roar of the drums could vanish and his identity as a musician feels at risk. His girlfriend Lou pulls him toward a rehab program for deaf people, hoping a structured path will stabilize his nerves and teach him a new way to listen. At the facility, Ruben is immersed in a community that treats silence as a form of language and connection, not a defect. He must decide how to balance the loss with the need to belong and to create again. The balance never feels simple.

Directed by Darius Marder, Sound of Metal is an original drama written with Abraham Marder and Derek Cianfrance. The film premiered in 2020 at festivals and reached audiences, focusing on sound, identity, and a drummer's struggle to redefine life after loss.

At the Academy Awards the film earned nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor for Riz Ahmed, with Paul Raci nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Riz Ahmed won Best Actor and the film also took home Best Sound. These wins reflected its craft in performance and audio design.

The film sparked widespread discussion about Deaf culture and representation, in part because it casts Deaf actors in pivotal roles and uses American Sign Language as a living element of storytelling. Viewers left with a heightened appreciation for community, accessibility, and alternative musical language. Its Deaf cast reshaped conversations.

Critics praised the film for a humane look at a man redefining himself after sudden disability, and for a portrayal of resilience. It treats sound and silence as forces shaping identity and relationships rather than obstacles. Audiences praise its tone and the way it redefines what sound means in cinema.