Film: The History of Sound [2025] – Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor

The History of Sound isn’t necessarily concerned with the musicology. It is an ode to love in all its permutations. It is love found, love lost and love that endures.

Starring Paul Mescal & Josh O’Connor, and directed by Oliver Hermanus, the film is handsome to look at, but it is still mostly understated in its framing and compositions.

It’s a piece of art that is tied down by its story issues. Everything on a very low heat — too low, in fact, to ever rise to a proper simmer. Based on the story written by Ben Shattuck, the film casts an enchanting spell in its languid story of a love that dare not speak its name between Lionel and David, two scholars who meet at the New England Conservatory of Music in 1917.

Mescal has been on a successful streak with good movies. I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets nominated to awards next year. However, as much as I loved and enjoyed the love story between the two of them, the film has a couple of issues.

While it’s called The History of Sound, the film doesn’t really focuses on sound or music. The folk songs and their presence here are instead just a crutch that the film barely utilizes. It’s more concerned with Lionel’s loneliness and his dissatisfaction with his life. And that part is amazing, if not too slow.

Message to directors and editors out there: Not every film needs to be over two hours. Remove around 15 minutes of this film and I would have called it perfection. However, as is, a lot of scenes felt boring and pushed me towards me phone, sadly.

Would I watch it again? Yes. Does it need tightening? Definitely.

Should You Watch It?

This beautifully performed, restrained drama explores music, love, and loss. The only issue? A bit slow and long.

Where Can I Watch It?

The History of Sound is now playing in theaters.