By Joy Onozuka

Tinnitus can be hard to explain to those without it, and the same is even more true for pain and loudness hyperacusis, which can make normal everyday sounds feel unbearably uncomfortable. So when a major Hollywood actor, Dustin Hoffman, co-stars in a riveting crime drama alongside an up-and-coming actor, Leo Woodall playing a character with hyperacusis, we had to see it.

Like Baby Driver, whose protagonist lives with tinnitus, Tuner weaves hyperacusis into the plot, making for a compelling story about a former piano prodigy turned piano tuner named Niki. His acute hearing, which is depicted as a byproduct of his hyperacusis (this is where the narrative gets the condition wrong), makes him uniquely suited to crack safes, which pulls him into a criminal underworld.

Working with his mentor Harry, played by Dustin Hoffman, Niki goes about his day wearing earplugs and earmuffs, which reflects how many individuals with this condition navigate their days. It took two painstaking years for him to reenter a world where sound cannot be controlled.

It’s not just that normal sounds are perceived as extremely loud but that, in the case of pain hyperacusis, the sensation of sound is experienced as jabbing pain, burning, or stabbing in the ears or head that can linger long after the exposure to the sound. Pain hyperacusis has no cure or standard of care, and few healthcare providers are aware of the condition and how it can be managed.

Hence, artistic liberties aside, it can be argued that the film is a game changer for public understanding of the condition. The dramatic glimpse into how hyperacusis can upend someone’s life opens a critical door to increased awareness of a condition that lives largely in the dark, often behind the closed door of a soundproof room for those with more severe cases. Let us know what you think of the film by emailing tinnitus@ata.org.

Tuner is available to rent on Fandango at Home, Apple TV, and Amazon Video. As of this week, it is still playing in a handful of theaters for those who’d prefer to watch it on the big screen.