The Sound of Silence

Play trailer

2:25

The Sound of Silence

Released Sep 13, 2019

1h 27m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

43 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

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

Full Review

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

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Michael Tyburski

Director

Peter Sarsgaard

Peter Lucian

Rashida Jones

Ellen Chasen

Tony Revolori

Samuel Diaz

Austin Pendleton

Robert Feinway

Bruce Altman

Harold Carlyle

The Beaver

63%

55%

The Beaver

Watchlist

Spotlight

97%

93%

Spotlight

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Spotlight

Birds of Paradise

65%

37%

Birds of Paradise

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Birds of Paradise

Winter's Bone

94%

76%

Winter's Bone

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Winter's Bone

Stillwater

75%

72%

Stillwater

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Stillwater

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Hustlers Is Certified Fresh

The Sound of Silence: Trailer 1

2:25

View more videos

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now