We can clearly see how sound and camera framing are used to show Ruben’s change. In the first scene, even though we hear the characters talking, the room feels quiet and tense. The subtitles and still atmosphere make us feel Ruben’s discomfort. The shot/reverse shot editing shows their conversation, but the framing makes Ruben look lost, while Joe looks grounded. In the final scene, we also get quiet, but it’s a different kind of quiet. After all the harsh implant sounds, the silence that comes when Ruben removes them feels peaceful. He’s no longer trying to fight silence, he’s choosing it.

Sound of Metal is more than a story about a drummer losing his hearing, it’s a story about learning to let go. Through the use of internal sound design and camera framing, the film shows how Ruben’s relationship with silence changes. At first, silence is something he fears and tries to escape. But by the end, silence becomes something he accepts and even embraces. These film techniques help us connect with Ruben’s journey on a deeper level. In the end, Sound of Metal reminds us that real peace doesn’t always come from fixing what’s broken but from learning to live fully in the present moment.