Movie spotlight
The Listeners - NNO
Maths teacher Claire hears a mysterious low-frequency noise and the pollution is driving her crazy. The constant ‘hum’ drives her away from her family and towards others who also hear the same all-consuming sound. This support group offers compassion but what lies behind their cult-like rituals? Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's brand new opera is a thriller about social rejection, the abuse of power and echo chambers. Based on an original story by Jordan Tannahill, The Listeners is inspired by an identified phenomenon, the ‘global hum’. Grammy-nominated Mazzoli was the first woman to be commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera and has already successfully collaborated with librettist Vavrek, with whom she wrote the opera Breaking the Waves.
Insights
Plot Summary
A woman, still grieving the loss of her mother, begins to experience disturbing auditory hallucinations. As these 'voices' become more persistent and invasive, she finds herself increasingly isolated and drawn into a cult-like community that promises solace. Her grip on reality weakens as she grapples with her grief and the potential supernatural or psychological origins of the sounds plaguing her.
Critical Reception
The Listeners garnered attention for its unsettling atmosphere and psychological depth, though its pacing and ambiguous narrative were points of contention among critics. The film was praised for its brave exploration of grief and mental health through a horror lens, with many highlighting the lead performance.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its haunting atmosphere and powerful central performance.
Critiqued for its slow burn and sometimes obscure narrative.
Noted for its unique approach to grief and psychological horror.
Google audience: Audience reviews frequently commend the film's ability to create a deeply unsettling and immersive experience, with many appreciating its thematic explorations of loss and mental well-being. Some viewers found the narrative challenging to follow at times, but the emotional impact was often highlighted.
Awards & Accolades
Selected for various film festival programs, including the Fantasia International Film Festival.
Fun Fact
Director Madeleine Sims-Fewer also stars in the lead role, drawing from personal experiences with grief and auditory phenomena for inspiration.
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