The Sound of Silence

Released Sep 13, 2019

1h 27m

Drama

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List

64%

Tomatometer

44 Reviews

38%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

There are a symphony of almost undetectable sounds that make up a moment of silence, and Peter Lucian (Peter Sarsgaard) is determined to catalogue them all. Through his job as a New York City "house tuner," the hyper-methodical Peter works meticulously to diagnose the discordant ambient noises--produced by everything from wind patterns to humming electrical appliances--adversely affecting his clients' moods. When he takes on the particularly difficult case of Ellen (Rashida Jones), a lonely woman plagued by chronic exhaustion, Peter finds that the mysteries of the soul may be even greater than the mysteries of sound. A quietly moving portrait of a harmony-obsessed man learning to embrace the dissonances of human emotion, The Sound of Silence invites viewers to hear the world with fresh ears.

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Critics Consensus

The Sound of Silence occasionally struggles to control its tone and convey its message, but it benefits from compelling performances and intriguing ideas.

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G. Allen Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle

It is stunted and meandering, barely filling out its 85 minutes.

Rated: 1.5/4

Sep 26, 2019

Full Review

Jonathan Romney

Film Comment Magazine

..."The Sound of Silence" is a modest, contemplative study of ideas that itself exemplifies those ideas in its design, not least its sound design; it embodies a conceptual rumination.

Sep 20, 2019

Full Review

Matthew Lickona

San Diego Reader

Lucian is a man with a theory, desperate to extrapolate from what he knows is true to what it might imply, and if you've ever known such a man, you will likely appreciate Sarsgaard's performance

Rated: 2/5

Sep 20, 2019

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Aside from its technical accomplishments, it's a film that piques the viewer's interest yet ends just as it starts to hint at more beneath its premise.

Rated: 2/4

Feb 23, 2022

Full Review

Catherine Springer

AwardsWatch

In an age where so many things are overdone, overblown and overwrought, it's nice to have such a simple, quiet movie about a totally relatable and universal human experience.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 25, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The uniquely intellectual drama runs with a soulfully promising story as far as it can go before getting backed into a corner by a director who doesn't know how to handle it.

Rated: B-

Nov 21, 2019

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Audience Member

2.9 thought this was unique enough I guess

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/15/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie with amazing subtleties and nuances. Strong performances, fresh premise, and very thought provoking.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I liked this movie very much. It was an interesting concept and well acted. I wonder if these types of sound people really exist?

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Enjoyable film with a deep intellectual undertone (no pun intended). The acting performance were pristine, muffled only by a plot that lacked a robust substance. Impressively shot with a magnificent sound team, this film is worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hints at the considerable amount of potential it has but just doesn't develop it's premise or characters enough.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

Why are the last 3-5 minutes of the movie black - no lights? It was a vast waste of time!

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

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Michael Tyburski

Director

Peter Sarsgaard

Peter Lucian

Rashida Jones

Ellen Chasen

Tony Revolori

Samuel Diaz

Austin Pendleton

Robert Feinway

Bruce Altman

Harold Carlyle

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The Sound of Silence: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

There are a symphony of almost undetectable sounds that make up a moment of silence, and Peter Lucian (Peter Sarsgaard) is determined to catalogue them all. Through his job as a New York City "house tuner," the hyper-methodical Peter works meticulously to diagnose the discordant ambient noises--produced by everything from wind patterns to humming electrical appliances--adversely affecting his clients' moods. When he takes on the particularly difficult case of Ellen (Rashida Jones), a lonely woman plagued by chronic exhaustion, Peter finds that the mysteries of the soul may be even greater than the mysteries of sound. A quietly moving portrait of a harmony-obsessed man learning to embrace the dissonances of human emotion, The Sound of Silence invites viewers to hear the world with fresh ears.

Director: Michael Tyburski
Screenwriter: Ben Nabors, Michael Tyburski
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Keshet Studios, Anonymous Content, Group Theory, Feracious Entertainment
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 10, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.0K
Runtime: 1h 27m

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