The History of Sound (2025)
Directed by: Oliver Hermanus
Premise: In the early twentieth century, Lionel and David (Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor) cross the country documenting folk songs. Their relationship turns romantic and years after they go their separate ways Lionel searches for David.
What Works: The History of Sound does not follow a typical narrative structure and that is one of the film’s key strengths. Rather a formal three act structure in which the protagonist works toward a specific goal, The History of Sound has a looser organization. The story winds through the characters’ lives which is appropriate given the way to two leads cross the country recording folk songs and how Lionel spends the latter part of the film drifting from one place to another, unable to settle down. The performances are subtle and complex. Josh O’Connor plays David, the partner who leads the expeditions, and Paul Mescal plays Lionel, who has an ear for music. David and Lionel are natural partners. In playing David, O’Connor has a way of looking at his partner in a way that pierces through the other man’s social armor. Yearning and melancholy define Mescal’s performance as Lionel. Both men know that the social mores of this historical moment make it impossible for them to be together and that resignation is evident in the way they relate to each other. The History of Sound ends with a coda sequence featuring Chris Cooper as the elderly version of Lionel. It’s an effective conclusion and Cooper conveys the character’s longing and regret without getting too melodramatic.
What Doesn’t: The History of Sound has an obvious parallel with Brokeback Mountain and it borrows a lot from the 2005 film. As a period piece, The History of Sound is inconsistent. Some of the set design looks appropriately aged but some actors are too contemporary looking. For people living in the early twentieth century and especially characters living in rural locations, everyone is too well groomed. The History of Sound suffers in its second half. Subplots and side stories are introduced but feel incomplete. Lionel has a complicated relationship with his mother and his heritage but this doesn’t come to a resolution. Lionel has a serious romance with a woman while living in the United Kingdom but that relationship doesn’t have the screentime to develop. He later discovers that David was married and this subplot is also cut short with little consideration for what this revelation means for David or for Lionel.
Bottom Line: There is a lot to admire in The History of Sound especially the lead performances by Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor. The film feels incomplete but that’s part of its circuitous storytelling style.
Episode: #1072 (November 2, 2025)