The Sound of Metal opens with the bittersweet soundtrack to Ruben’s (Riz Ahmed) life. Music is his passion and livelihood as the drummer in a punk-metal band. It also marks out his morning rituals, it brightens his many road trips, and it’s a means of connecting with his girlfriend and bandmate Lou (Olivia Cooke).

Sound is the way Ruben expresses himself – on every level. So, when Ruben begins to lose his hearing, his whole life is smothered.

It was probably my first experience of reverse psychology. The junior amateur psychologist who was utilising the technique, was clearly adept. “If you really want to watch My Little Pony we can do” my 10 year old brother chimed. A pang of guilt hit my 6 year old heart– "I should let him watch what he wants, that's good sharing". And that was where it began, my introduction to animated and live-action comic book stories.

When you’re a Christian, this thing happens where new, unexpected things remind you of the hope you have in Jesus. For me, as an avid lover of pop culture, it’s often on a screen that these reminders hit me. They hit me whilst watching Moana walk across the water to tell Te’Fiti that she sees her true spirit. They hit me as I read the Narnia books. They hit me as I watch Queer Eyeand see people from different worlds embrace.