POV Season 14 Episode 2 The Sweetest Sound

In this episode of POV, titled "The Sweetest Sound," we are introduced to Alan Berliner, a self-proclaimed "compulsive archivist" and filmmaker. Berliner sets out on a mission to explore the meaning of his name and the significance of sound in our lives. Specifically, he delves into the concept of how our names are tied to our identities and how the sound of our names can impact our experiences and relationships.

Berliner begins his journey by interviewing various people from different cultural backgrounds, asking them to describe the sound of their own name. These interviews reveal a wide range of emotions and experiences related to one's name, including pride, embarrassment, and even trauma. We meet a woman who changed her name after her father abandoned her family, a man whose name is constantly mispronounced, and another who feels a disconnect between the sound of his name and his true identity.

As Berliner continues his exploration of sound, he starts to experiment with recording and manipulating his own voice. He discovers the power of technology to alter and enhance sound, and begins to incorporate these techniques into his filmmaking process. We see him playing with voice modulation and audio distortion, creating abstract soundscapes that evoke a sense of unease and disorientation.

Throughout the episode, Berliner also reflects on his own relationship with sound and the role it has played in his life. He shares personal stories of his struggles with insomnia and sensory overload, and how these experiences have shaped his understanding of sound and its impact on our wellbeing. We see him experimenting with sound therapy techniques, such as binaural beats and chanting, as he seeks to find peace and balance in his daily life.

As the episode comes to a close, Berliner returns to the theme of names and the significance of sound. He shares his own story of how his name was almost changed by a family member who disliked it, and how that experience has shaped his own relationship with his name. The final scenes offer a powerful meditation on the nature of identity and the ways in which we are defined by the sounds that surround us.

Overall, "The Sweetest Sound" is a thought-provoking and deeply personal exploration of the role that sound plays in our lives. Through Berliner's journey, we are invited to reflect on our own relationship with sound, and to question the ways in which it shapes our experiences and identities.