Image via Morning Star Pictures.
Autism is rarely explored on film and even less so within the confines of a rom com which is what makes The Sound of Violet so special. Writer-director Allen Wolf has adapted his own novel and managed to create a film which openly embraces genre tropes, but triumphs primarily because of actor Jason Trevino. In his portrayal of Shaun, an autistic twenty-something looking for love, there is such unbridled naturalism that within minutes audiences will be won over.
Living under the watchful eye of his grandmother Ruth (Jan D’Arcy) and brother Colin (Kaelon Christoper), Shaun lives out his life writing code for an app-based dating site. Ridiculed by his chauvinist boss Jake (Tyler Roy Roberts) for wanting the app to bring people together rather than string them along, Shaun is a hopeless romantic destined to live out his life alone, until a work party brings him into contact with Violet (Cora Cleary).
Image via Morning Star Pictures.
An out of work actor forced into turning tricks, Violet is kept on a short leash by Anton (Michael E. Bell). Beaten, exploited, and loaned out for money this is what writer-director Allen Wolf is really interested in. The Sound of Violet exists between these two opposing relationships, where Shaun represents salvation and safety, while Anton resides in darkness looking to profit through the promise of fear and violence. Oddly enough, as much as these elements should cause some kind of tonal imbalance everything comes together.
Image via Morning Star Pictures.
Chemistry between Cleary and Trevino is another reason The Sound of Violet works so well. A fear of physicality, which is common for those on the spectrum, makes Shaun instantly endearing since his connection to Violet offers no immediate threat. Trevino genuinely disappears into the role, bringing an authenticity to Shaun that effortlessly offsets any conventional elements elsewhere. To a certain extent, everyone else seems to be phoning it in by comparison, since Jan D’Arcy is hampered by archetype, Kaelon Christopher is given little to do, and Ruth’s love interest Douglas (Malcolm J. West) feels like an afterthought.
Image via Morning Star Pictures.
However, there is no getting away from the fact that Trevino carries this film without breaking sweat. Opposite Cora Cleary, who starts going toe to toe with him in the latter stages, The Sound of Violet really starts making its mark. As the dramatic stakes increase and cliches start flying thick and fast, there is more than one moment where things look to be falling apart. But somehow this Allen Wolf adaptation continues to work in the face of dramatic obstacles.
Image via Morning Star Pictures.
Every time Violet is ridiculed for her prostitution by Ruth, or Colin jumps to the defence of his autistic brother, The Sound of Violet looks set to collapse. Building drama around an inability to read social cues while avoiding physical contact, could have been disastrous. Any number of potential problems could have turned The Sound of Violet into a cinematic car crash. However, despite a film that trades in cliches, embraces archetypes and is unapologetic in its exploitation of genre tropes, Allen Wolf has also made a rom com which punches above its weight and includes a call to arms on an important contemporary issue.
The Sound of Violet is available to stream on Prime Video now.