disappointment media
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About

32 SOUNDS -- This Extraordinary Documentary Is Essential Viewing

4/25/2023

0 Comments

 
Review by Cole Groth
Picture
Documentary filmmaking is often overlooked as a lesser medium of entertainment. As a film critic, I’m embarrassed to say that I also stray away from documentaries, but I’ll reconsider this perspective going forward after seeing 32 Sounds. From Oscar-nominated director Sam Green, this immersive experience explores the human connection of sound and stands apart as one of the best documentaries in years.

Sam Green follows up on his promise through the title of 32 Sounds. He presents the audience with 32 unique auditory experiences, ranging from sounds within the womb to the silence of the night. Some sounds are abstract, and some are incredibly common, but they’re all uniquely profound. Supported by a score from JD Samson, Green’s calm narration takes viewers on an odyssey.

It’s easy to think a documentary like this would be pretentious. Trying to capture these shared experiences often traps directors into making assumptions about the world that simply aren’t true. However, Green takes a nuanced approach to these broad generalizations and explains sound’s universality with simplicity, making it wildly entertaining.
Picture
Plenty of the 32 sounds Green explores are a lot of fun. We see the different ways that artists use sound in their works, highlighting the incredible medium that is sound. Documentaries too often feel like they’re made by people who simply find the topic interesting. Green has a connection with the use of sound that transcends this. He manipulates audio to shift tones numerous times, making this a fun and emotional experience.

Toward the film’s end, Green takes a sharply emotional twist and revisits voice memos from his deceased relatives. While the first hour is great, the last half hour is an absolute masterpiece. It’s rare to find a director so in touch with emotions; it is undoubtedly fresh air.

With sound being the core of this documentary, Samson has a lot to stand up to with her score. Fortunately, she brings magic to the calm narration from Green and enhances the experience across the board. Her synth-heavy score is endlessly engaging, and mastery shines through each piece.

32 Sounds is nothing short of masterful. It’s the type of documentary that will shift your worldview and stick in your mind long after the credits roll. It’s a joyous exploration of the power of sound that is effortlessly delightful in its presentation. This is not a film to be missed.

32 Sounds releases in theaters starting April 28.

Rating: 4.5/5
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019

    Authors

    All
    Adam Donato
    Alan French
    Allison Brown
    Camden Ferrell
    Cole Groth
    Dan Skip Allen
    Jonathan Berk
    Joseph Fayed
    Josh Batchelder
    Paris Jade
    Rafael Motamayor
    Sarah Williams
    Sean Boelman
    Tatiana Miranda

disappointment media

Dedicated to unique and diverse perspectives on cinema!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About