The Sound of Silence Movie Review

At the beginning of the movie, we see early sound tests being done in New York City that tells us how much of our hearing we are deprived of due to ‘noise pollution.’ It was a staggering number back then; can you imagine what the number would be now?!

In another of his underrated performances, Peter Sarsgaard plays Peter Lucian, a ‘house-tuner’ trying to launch his scientific theory of ‘sound disrupting our harmony’ off the ground.

By word of mouth suggestions only, he has built up a client base that trusts him with their mental health. He goes from home to home and he listens to ambient noises in people’s apartments. These noises, without the owner’s knowledge, are affecting them to such a degree that they can’t sleep, and their moods have been altered so much they’ve started experiencing anxieties. 

He often tracks the problem to something such as an appliance humming at a ‘clear G’ when another is producing an ‘E Flat.’ He explains that if the foundation is at another, say a ‘C,’ it may create a depression. In the case of Ellen Chasen (Jones), who is unmotivated and irritated all the time, he finds that her issue is, quite simply, her toaster. He promises he knows where he can find her a new one. Little does he know, but her problem goes further than that as her partner had recently passed. When she meets Peter, she’s taken with his kindness. He isn’t paying close attention to her because he’s genuinely into proving his theory, but he’s just as lonely. It’s just that he isn’t quite aware of that fact. 

Though this unexpected and possible pairing is a large part of getting to know who Peter is, it does seem a bit unbalanced when it’s introduced. His career, which means so much to him, doesn’t include room for love. You know this by the fact that it has been suggested his work, up until now, is the only thing that does matter to him. A relationship would be out of character.

Peter believes his study of sound deserves to be brought to the attention of the scientific community. He argues that it’s a universal law that science needs to know about and to embrace. His friend Robert Feinway (Revolori) cautions him not to get too excited about his project. He insists it needs to be thoroughly examined, counseling him to allow his students to take a more in-depth look at his work. Robert reminds him that we hear and find what we are looking for not because it’s there but because we want desperately to believe its there. Hearing this disappoints Peter but does not derail him. What he has been doing is going around NYC, making charts, and mapping out the varying tones and vibrations that leave an invisible impression within our bodies. It’s respected and vital work.

He also meets with Harold (Bruce Altman), a man who’s trying to enlist Peter to work at his company. Harold loves Peter’s work, but Peter insists it’s not for the purposes they are pursuing. Regardless, it just may be that they have already stolen his idea out from underneath him. I’ll leave that for you to discover.

At one point, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, there’s a deep philosophical and profound conversation between Ellen and Peter about universal laws that rule and define our lives. The script gives us passages such as, ‘Silence is not empty but immeasurable full.’ It’s a fascinating look into sound unlike I’ve ever seen. I feel I have to warn that the film is flawed, but it’s original and has a confident cast, which is already a win in my opinion. I quite enjoyed the score, with ‘G Major Theory’ being used most, that notwithstanding, I do think that by the end of the film, it was recycled too often in the soundtrack. 

If you’re a fan of these actors, it’s not a movie to pass up, but seeing it on the big screen is not required. Through your home speakers, you should be able to understand the point the filmmakers are making here. Sound is much more critical than we realize. Unplug some… you might be the better for it.