Riz Ahmed gives an outstanding performance in Sound of Metal. He plays Ruben, a role of agony and survival, as his normal life is stripped away when losing his sense of hearing. 

The Synopsis:

During a series of adrenaline-fueled one-night gigs, itinerant punk-metal drummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed) begins to experience intermittent hearing loss. When a specialist tells him his condition will rapidly worsen, he thinks his music career — and with it his life — is over. His bandmate and girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) checks the recovering heroin addict into a secluded sober house for the deaf in hopes it will prevent a relapse and help him learn to adapt to his new situation. But after being welcomed into a community that accepts him just as he is, Ruben has to choose between his equilibrium and the drive to reclaim the life he once knew. Utilizing startling, innovative sound design techniques, director Darius Marder takes audiences inside Ruben’s experience to vividly recreate his journey into a rarely examined world.

Riz Ahmed is British actor of Pakistani descent. He gained recognition with the drama documentary, A Road to Guantanamo and is known for other films like, Nightcrawler, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Venom. In 2017 he won a Primetime Emmy for the starring role in the HBO miniseries, The Night Of. Ahmed also has talent for music and is part of the hip hop group Swet Shop Boys. They found success with the albums, Microscope and Cashmere. As a political rapper he has raised awareness and funds Rohingya and Syrian refugee children.

ALSO READ: Paul Raci Is The Guidance Of Deaf Souls In Sound Of Metal [Exclusive Interview]

I had the opportunity to speak to Riz Ahmed via Zoom about Sound of Metal. He shared how much of him it took to play Ruben. Including the challenge of learning ASL and having to learn to play drums. 

Stay current with Riz Ahmed on Instagram and Twitter

Sound of Metal in select theaters today and on Prime Video December 4th

Source: LRM Online Exclusive