Scheduled for release in 2024, Noise is a South Korean psychological mystery drama film, written and directed by Kim Soo-jin for her debut feature. The film has attracted attention for the inclusion of notable actors, such as Lee Sun-bin, Han Su-a and Kim Min-seok. The film’s sound design and the emotional journey the audience is taken on stand out as being both captivating and masterfully subtle.
Within the setting of a dilapidated apartment complex, the film portrays a multifaceted narrative of disappearance, mystery, personal loss, unarticulated emotions, and the psychological burden of unprocessed memories. Rather than framing the film as a riddle, the audience is bestowed more questions than answers.
Film Synopsis
As the primary character of the film, Joo-young is a woman diagnosed with hearing impairment, who through the use of hearing aids, is able to better navigate her surroundings. Following her return to the city from a work trip, Joo-young is notified that her sister, Joo-hee, has gone missing. The sisters had recently relocated to a newer, older apartment building, and soon after the departure of Joo-young, peculiar noises began to disturb the household.
When Joo-young gets back, she is met with an unnerving mix of silence and faint, new, and strange sounds. Most of the other residents in the building do not provide any useful information and the complex itself has an atmosphere that is stagnant, damp, and full of mystery.
As Joo-young looks for her sister, the clues she gathers suggest that the problem extends far beyond the apartment. As she goes about her day, she starts to notice the walls are cracking, the pipes are making strange noises, and there’s an ever-growing feeling of being watched. On top of this, she has to confront her fears and memories. The answer to her sister’s whereabouts is far deeper than that; the answer lies in what has not been heard.
Character Highlights and Performances
As Joo-young, Lee Sun-bin stands out with her performance and emotionally defensive yet strong demeanor. Her emotionally expressive visage, which ranges from concern to bewilderment to strength, deepens the film’s impact. The hearing aid is not simply a piece of technology; in this case, it is an important part of her identity that symbolizes her relationship to both silence and sound.
Even though she is not often present on screen, Han Su-a as Joo-hee leaves a great impact. From flashbacks and recollections, we learn that she is gentle, emotionally fragile, and caring. Her relationship with her sister brings some warmth and adds depth to the story.
With Ki-hoon, Joo-hee’s partner, Kim Min-seok completes the cast. He balances some of the tension by providing a bit of calm, and though he becomes involved with the odd enigma of the apartment, he does support Joo-young in her search.
Other supporting characters, which include the building’s supers and some of the tenants, increase the pervasive tension. The film’s mystery is deepened by their guarded responses and avoidance, their tense expressions, and the film’s mystery is deepened by very uncertain and suspicious behavior.
The Themes and Symbolism of the Sound in The Movie
The Sound in The Movie
As the title suggests, sound is central to the film’s experience. Everyday noises, for example, running water, footsteps, and humming from a distance, are heightened and distorted which renders the ordinary to the strange. For Joo-young, sound has the unique nature of revealing the truth behind complex layers of reality, illusion, and secrets.
The treatment of silence in the film is equally important. When Joo-young takes off her hearing aid, she is transported into an overwhelmingly silent world. Through the removal of her hearing aid, the audience is transported into her world, which is a rare and often invisible perspective that elicits compassion and invites observation.
- Shared Space and Emotional Isolation
The apartment complex stands out as faded and history-filled, which sets the tone for the residents. In addition to the physical and emotional isolation it represents, this complex depicts a silent yet palpable disconnection among the individuals residing there. This setting mirrors Joo-young’s own yearning to reach out and be heard.
- Grief, Memory, and the Pursuit of Closure
Searching for her sister is a physical journey to Joo-young. While retracing Joo-hee’s steps, she faces the emotional chasm that had developed between them. As sisters, their shared memories made her realize the vast uncharted territory of silence that existed between them. This story gently invites us to consider how unresolved grief lingers, shaping the lives and relationships we inhabit and ultimately depart from, as well as the places we dwell in.
Visual and Technical Style
The approach of her direction reflects the meticulous nature of Kim Soo-jin, who tends to tackle such matters from a restrained and contemplative angle. Unlike other filmmakers, Kim Soo-jin chooses to forego dramatic plot developments. Rather, she prioritizes the creation of a tangible atmosphere. The same atmosphere is created by the cold color tones and close camera work which, combined with the dimly lit apartment, signal a constant feeling of tension.
The sound design is arguably the most outstanding technical achievement of the film. Amplified quiet sounds and unsettling familiar noises alongside strategically used silence heightens the film’s contrast. Similar to Joo-young, the viewer becomes hyper aware of every sound.
The emotional cues of the film are guided by sounds of the environment as opposed to music, enabling ambient sounds to take the lead. As feelings capture moments, the editing remains unbothered to let emotions settle.
Feedback
The film has received accolades related to originality and emotional exploration. Silent and atmosphere resonating storytelling has moved and encouraged viewers to reflect. While some viewers anticipated a faster-paced film or a more conventional mystery, many appreciated the film’s artistic strength in providing an experience that stays well after the end credits.
Sincere and down to earth was the takeaway from the performances—especially Lee Sun-bin. The film is subtle while still framing the insightful themes of loss, memory and human connection.
Closing Comments
The viewer is invited to slow down and listen—not just listen to the sounds, but sense the emotions that lie beneath. Noise transforms a simple mystery to an emotional expedition guided by sound, with thoughtful performances and sound design that is a true work of art.
Instead of relying on spectacle, the film centers on the atmosphere, memory, and relationships. It is a reminder that silence, at times, can speak volumes. It is not in what we find, but in what we hear that the most meaningful discoveries are made.
Transcending genre classification, Noise is a film that is as quiet as it is powerful, as an audience, it is in a sense of intimacy that it pulls the viewer while holding an air of mystery. Noise offers a unique cinematic experience and stays long after the film is done. This film is meant for an audience that appreciates an emotional narrative intertwined with the bonds of humanity and the overwhelming, yet sad, level of bravery it requires to seek the truth around and inside oneself.
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