Review of Unsound

Unsound (2020)
9/10
Touching coming-of-age drama with Deaf culture
1 December 2021
When the film opens, we are at 2 small music gigs; contrasting in style and volume. One features pop diva Moniqua, crooning though her past hits with her guitarist, Noah in the UK. The other is in a community centre with the drums and bass thundering from the small distorting PA at volume 11. At this gig, it's all about music you can feel because it's the deaf club weekly dance run by Finn.

When Noah quits his band to visit his mother in Australia, he soon stumbles into the deaf community club nearby and meets Finn. Noah finds himself swept up in the vibrant, passionate life of the young, emerging trans-man, Finn (Yiana Pandelis). He is a proud, Auslan-only speaker who, with his father played by AUSLAN ambassador and Australian entertainer Todd McKenney.

Noah and Finn work together sound-proofing the club. They are two lovely characters who soon form a bond. The otherworldly and completely adorable Finn jokes that in sign language, boyfriend and girlfriend are the same sign.

Through the polished and intelligent original script written by Ally Burnham, the story is told in English, Auslan sign language and English subtitles. The quality of the acting and performances is exemplary from the leads, Yiana Pandelis & Reece Noi, ably supported by Christine Anu & Paula Duncan.

Reflective of today's diverse, progressive and inclusive world, this is a great story, well told.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed