Based on a book by Ben Shattuck, who also wrote the screenplay, The History of Sound follows Lionel (played by a fantastic Paul Mescal), a Kentucky farm boy with a golden ear for sound and a remarkable singing voice. His talent earns him a place at a Boston conservatory, where he meets David (another powerhouse performance by the very in-demand Josh O’Connor). The two fall in love; World War I intervenes. In 1919, returning from the war, David invites Lionel to join him on a song-collecting field trip. The star-crossed lovers embark on a journey filled with folk ballads recorded on wax cylinders, stunning landscapes, and delicate (and non-explicit) intimacy. But things change very quickly.
The History of Sound isn’t just another story of doomed gay love; it tells Lionel’s story with restraint and lyricism mixing folk songs with emotional twists and turns, and making silence do as much work as the music and dialogue. Director Oliver Hermanus portrays the two lovers’ inability to imagine a happily-ever-after: “Happiness isn’t a story,” Lionel says in a voiceover, “My grandfather once said that happiness isn’t a story, so there isn’t much to say about those first weeks.” That’s how the movie takes him at his word, dwelling on observation, time, and how the world changes around these characters, rather than chasing big speeches or the intensity of the unbearable losses they endure.
The approach is delicate – and limiting. Beautiful cinematography and strong direction make this a beautiful watch, but the screenplay never settles into a consistent pace, drifting towards multiple endings with no clear climax. Hermanus and Shattuck opt for a careful depiction of gay love that feels too safe. It doesn’t reach the piercing intensity or powerful intimacy of Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers or the raw immediacy of Francis Lee’s God’s Own Country (in which Mescal and O’Connor starred, respectively), nor does it really confront the grim harshness of the era on these two men’s lives with the force of Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain. Hopping from the United States to Europe, and back, the film never gives its various timelines – or the characters – enough air.
Still, Mescal and O’Connor are the true emotional core of the piece. Their remarkable chemistry and haunting performances elevate the film, bringing nuance and depth to their characters – even when the screenplay falls short of fully honoring the emotional weight of the subject matter.
The History of Sound may not become a Queer-cinema classic, but it has its merits and will resonate with a wider audience through its touching portrayal of love and loss in the early 1900s.
Why should public libraries add this movie to their shelves?
The History of Sound offers a nuanced portrayal of Queer love, music, and resilience in early 20th-century America. Its historical setting and focus on folk songs make it a valuable resource for those interested in American cultural history, sound studies, and LGBTQ+ representation. The film’s restrained tone and period detail will appeal to viewers who enjoy slow, contemplative storytelling that blends art, emotion, and history. For public libraries, it provides a meaningful addition to collections exploring music preservation, early recording technology, and the intersection of art and identity. It also broadens the representation of Queer lives in historical contexts, giving patrons access to a story that celebrates tenderness and creative expression rather than tragedy alone.
Is this period drama a good fit for campus screenings?
This film captures the beauty of early sound-recording practices and folk traditions, while revealing how music carries memory, emotion, and identity—themes that continue to resonate with students. Its thoughtful exploration of Queer history, war, and artistic preservation makes it suitable for screenings in courses on film studies, American studies, gender and sexuality, or ethnomusicology. The performances by Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor offer strong examples of restrained acting within a historical narrative, while the cinematography invites discussion on how sound and silence are used as storytelling tools. For campus audiences, The History of Sound provides an opportunity to examine how love, art, and cultural heritage intertwine in times of upheaval.
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