Thursday evening the Brattle will feature “the loudest sound”, an independent film by Brookline resident Director Jason Miller. The film depicts a young Boston couple and the breaking of their three-year bond by addiction and betrayal through the visual interchange between color and black and white. Miller says the inspiration behind the film is a mix of personal experience and a desire to write film stories that depict the truths and challenges of interpersonal relationships. “The relationship depicted with Michael and Alice,” the film’s focal characters, “has shades of codependency that affects many couples,” Miller says. Miller adds that “As a film, a lot of inspiration came from the great American movies of the 1970’s” which were, “Films that dealt with big ideas, and never shied away from open and honest portrayals of [the] characters.” The choice to move visually between color and black and white Miller describes as representing the “motivations and the ever-changing dynamics of the relationship.” Although the couple is young, Miller believes the trials Michael and Alice face are more universal, but being inexperienced certainly doesn’t make things easier for them.
Due to the nature of low-budget filming, “the loudest sound” was shot over the entirety of a year and with an exclusively Boston-based cast featuring Michael Reardon, Johanna Gorton, Hillary Coughling, and Ellen Soderberg. Furthering the film’s local cred, even the crew is New England-based including the talented Director of Photography, Nolan Yee. Viewers should catch familiar settings like Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village, not to mention scenes at the Boston University Art Gallery and The Middle East bar in Cambridge.
“Before filming began,” Miller says, “we rehearsed almost like we were producing a play. Even going as far as spending an entire weekend together while the two leads Michael Reardon and Johanna Gorton stayed in character.” For additional inspiration prior to filming, Miller screened for the cast Mike Nichols’ “Carnal Knowledge” to set the mood and tone of “the loudest sound.”
The film will feature a score from international and local sources. Scotland-based composer, Matther Whiteside, creator of the >electroacoustic ensemble Edit-Point, has composed and recorded the original score. Additionally, Brookline pianist Ran Blake ‘s music is also featured in the film.
Regarding the deeper meaning behind the “the loudest sound,” viewing should bring up internal connections to what we often suffer through in relationships in addition to what we say and don’t say to one another. That idea is what Miller indicates is the central metaphor of the film.
View “the loudest sound” Thursday 12/18 at 7:00 PM, Brattle Theater, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased here.
—Story by Adriana Hammond
