User reviews

The premise of the film is lovely on its own, but it's clear they took on too much in one film. I wasn't 100% sure who the lead character was; Noah or Finn, and in the end I didn't really care. There wasn't enough time or development dedicated to building them as deeper characters. Noah is so one sided it's painful, becoming forgetful when it needs to fuel the drama in the story.

However, the worst part, and this is by no means a dig at Yiana Pandelis, was the representation of a hard-of-hearing trans man. I would've highly preferred this to just be about a hard-of-hearing woman, or if they put in the effort to actually cast a trans or GNC actor for this role. It was sad to hear the producer preach about inclusivity and the need for a range of characters to be accurately represented on screen, only to have the one trans character appallingly drawn up.

It is insulting to cast a cis woman to play a transgender man in 2020. This was sloppy. The producer at the screening claimed they spent a year teaching Pandelis full Auslan in preparation, yet in the same breath claimed it was all too difficult to cast a trans man? Ridiculous. That is lazy casting. If not a transgender MAN, then at the very least there is a nonbinary or GNC person out there for the role.

As for the scenes of Finn going through transitional stages, why are we shown the exact same, recycled imagery from American films? Australian laws heavily regulate the distribution of T, much stricter than the US. They also do not allow the first dose to be administered at home, nor do they allow self administration for many new users. In most cases, people are actively encouraged to have their doses administered by a doctor at a practice. What came up in Unsound was recycled.

It made me wonder, did Finn really need to be trans? Could Pandelis have played a lesbian, and Noah been a woman? What did we see that was new here? What does a hard-of-hearing transgender man experience different to hearing trans man? I know from personal experience that voice change is the first and most obvious effect, but if you cannot hear that change yourself, what's the most exciting part?

This film needed more time to flesh its story and characters out. It felt too rushed and much of the chemistry is beyond lacking. I really wanted to like this film. I really wanted to view the inclusivity positively, but it ended up feeling transparent, just a way for a company to say "look, we're including DIFFERENT people!" As a trans person, I felt excluded. And as it's about a trans person, I shouldn't have felt that way.

This is a very beautiful film, crafted with love and confidence. It's both surprising and heartfelt

Enjoyed filming so much, as an extra but still enjoyed every minute of it. The crew was amazing, and the final result spectacular. This films teaches people so many things, it should be in the main cinemas.

A beautiful look at love, life and relationships.Saw this at the MGFF, can recommend

Went to see this as part of the Queerscreen festival really as a night out rather than a "Wow I need to see that!" I'm so glad that I did. I was more invested in the movie from the outset than I ever thought I'd be. The actors were captivating as they walked you through a bittersweet storyline.

I'm so glad we have such great talent in Australia

Such a beautiful and at times hilarious story. I loved every element of it! It's great to see inclusive plots and the acting was amazing! Can't wait to see more.

Start to finish - All the feels.

This film was absolutely incredible. It was heart wrenching in a good way with laughter in between. I was glued to the screen. The performance of the actors and the writing was 10/10.

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.