US EditionHistory of Sound Review: Paul Mescal's Gay Romance Doesn't Sing
- "The History of Sound," a 2025 film directed by Oliver Hermanus, stars Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor in a gay romance set mainly in 1919 New England and premiered in Los Angeles on May 22, 2025.
- The story adapts Ben Shattuck's short story and follows American music students Lionel Worthing and David White whose relationship unfolds against WWI and folk song collecting, with Lionel excused from service and David drafted.
- Set between 1917 and 1984, the film explores the lovers' connection, folk song recordings on wax cylinders, Lionel’s musical gift, and their later lives, featuring actors Chris Cooper and Molly Price in supporting roles.
- The film received a six-minute standing ovation at Cannes, praised for Mescal and O'Connor’s performances and a stirring score by Oscar Coates, while some criticism noted the screenplay and direction limited its emotional range.
- The reception suggests that although the film beautifully depicts quiet love and folk music, its narrative and pacing may hinder it from becoming a defining queer romance, yet it may strengthen Hermanus' arthouse reputation.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor’s ‘The History of Sound’ earns 6-minute standing ovation
Los Angeles, May 22,2025- Hollywood stars Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor’s gay romance by Oliver Hermanus titled “The History of Sound” earned a six-minute standing ovation. While Mescal received a standing ovation when walking in, O’Connor had to miss the premiere because he was finishing filming his part in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film and couldn’t make it. “This has been one of the most wonderful creative collaborations of my very, very sh…
BBC Review Says Gay Romance “The History Of Sound” Is Too Polite For Its Own Good
A beautiful film that never dares to feel ugly. At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, The History Of Sound made its premiere as one of the most talked-about new gay dramas. But despite its star power, lush cinematography, and prestige polish, the film left BBC critic Nicholas Barber wondering where all the urgency went. In […]
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- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
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