DIRECTOR
Oliver Hermanus
Living, Moffie, Beauty

STARS
Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor

Period romance drama The History of Sound, set in the earlier 1900s, is based on a short story by writer Ben Shattuck that plants its roots in folk music and is presented from the perspective of music student, Lionel (Paul Mescal). During his time at the Boston Conservatory in 1917, Lionel meets fellow student David (Josh O’Connor), where the two bond of over their shared love of folk music. As they begin to spend time together singing, performing music and getting to know each other, their bond broadens to physical intimacy. While their individual musical endeavours have no real boundaries, their personal connection and quality time together is constantly paused by geographical separation and can hardly flourish in the era they live.

Unless you are equally seduced by the sound and lyrics of folk music as the two protagonists of this picture are, which I certainly am not, The History of Sound does take time to fully form and for each note of its music-driven story to emerge and grow on viewers. Once it does, however, this tenderly rendered and told film unearths profound capabilities.

Even if the film does have a slower beginning, the early characterisation of Lionel and David and the essence of their bond both draws early investment and is very well articulated. The beautifully nuanced performances from Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor are engaging when their characters share scenes, and together with their characterisation work and later plot developments, always possesses a lingering and gentle power in its subtlety that profoundly comes to the fore in scenes they are not together. Lionel is loyal to his life back at home in Kentucky with his parents but is entirely driven by his ability to ‘see sound’ and is unafraid to be and display his authentic self and feelings, irrespective of who is present and where he is. David is gleeful but guarded. His outwardly appearance is one of infectious positivity, even gorgeously labelling his orphanism as being ‘momentarily unparented’, but he is avoidant at worst and cagey at best when sharing anything about himself and his life. These personality contrasts and how their musical journey and friendship will or will not survive what is to follow is where I say most viewers bond with the film will be strongest.

Some detailing of The History of Sound’s story are less clearly conveyed and may remain unknown, but this was nevertheless a film I could potently feel throughout (the second half in particular). The ability to feel what is unsaid but seen is palpable. While I wouldn’t categorise The History of Sound in the same echelon of other LGBTQIA+  romance greats such as Call Me By Your Name, Carol or Brokeback Mountain, I would confidently and comfortably label it a beautiful romantic drama that is on level-pegging with the likes of Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Blue is the Warmest Colour, Holding the Man and Ammonite.

The History of Sound is showing in cinemas across Australia from December 18th, 2025.

Moviedoc thanks Universal Pictures for the invitation to the screening of this film. 

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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