The History of Sound

During the height of World War I, two young American men, Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O'Connor), set out across the rural United States to record the folk songs, voices, and lives of their countrymen using early cylinder recording technology.

As they travel through isolated landscapes collecting audio archives, an intense, secretive romantic passion develops between them. Their deeply intimate bond and shared obsession with capturing fleeting moments of human sound shape the trajectory of their lives, haunting Lionel for decades to come as he looks back on the love and music they preserved.

💡 Did you know?
Adaptation of Award-Winning Literature: Based on Ben Shattuck's acclaimed Pushcart Prize-winning short story of the same name, with Shattuck himself writing the feature screenplay.

Star-Studded Lead Chemistry: Brings together two of contemporary cinema's most acclaimed indie leads: Oscar nominee Paul Mescal (Aftersun, All of Us Strangers) and Emmy winner Josh O'Connor (God's Own Country, Challengers).

Oliver Hermanus's Return to Queer Period Drama: Directed by South African auteur Oliver Hermanus, following his critically lauded films Moffie (2019) and Living (2022).

⭐ Film Evaluation & Ratings 📈
⭐ Global Critical & Festival Consensus: 7.8 / 10 (Cannes & International Film Festival Reviews)

Lauded for its melancholic atmosphere, stunning Eduard Grau cinematography, delicate sound design, and the deeply tender performances of Mescal and O'Connor.

🎨 Artistic & Musical Craft: 8.3 / 10

A poetic exploration of memory, sound, and historical LGBTQ+ repression, elevated by Oliver Coates' haunting musical score.

📝 Portal Recommendation:

An essential entry for Period LGBTQ+ Cinema Archives, Literary Adaptations, and Festival-Circuit Masterpieces. Pairs naturally with titles like All of Us Strangers (2023), God's Own Country (2017), or Brokeback Mountain (2005).