The History of Sound
Drawn to one another by their shared passion for music, Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O’Connor) spend several nights together during their time at the Boston Conservatory. While Lionel’s poor eyesight spares him from the draft, David is called up to serve in the First World War. In 1919, Lionel receives a letter from David, inviting him on a journey through rural Maine to collect local folk songs for posterity.
The History of Sound is an adaptation of the short story by Ben Shattuck – who also provided the screenplay – brought to life by South African director Oliver Hermanus (Living). Known for his subtle and restrained storytelling, the minimalism of this work is nonetheless surprising. Casting two of the internet’s boyfriends in such a distilled film, stripped from all frills, feels a little short of reckless. Both Mescal and O’Connor have proven themselves to be perfectly capable of leading small arthouse productions and blockbusters alike, but their combination in what is heralded as “the next Brokeback Mountain” may lead to misaligned expectations.
One of these will likely concern the actors’ chemistry, when in practice their intimacy plays out in quiet moments – such as David collecting feathers that have fallen from Lionel’s pillow – rather than through elaborate physical gestures. The nuance in these understated performances nonetheless achieves the filmmaker’s intended emotional effect: in one scene, Mescal’s character is clearly in shock but only allows his face to reveal the depths of his anguish once the other has left the room, before quickly pulling himself back together. It ranks easily among the actor’s finest work to date.
In the same way A Complete Unknown and Sinners did last year, The History of Sound continues to emphasise the importance of culture and oral storytelling traditions in music. The sensitive love story at its centre may be a touch too reserved for its own good, but it remains a poignant exploration of the imprints people leave on one another’s minds and hearts.
Selina Sondermann
The History of Sound is released nationwide on 23rd January 2026.
Watch the trailer for The History of Sound here:
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