“You are a pig!” / “I’m a rural farm boy. It’s part of my charm.”
The quote above really sets the tone of The History of Sound (2025). It is a charming movie, a cinematographically soft motion picture, subtle and intimate in execution. It was directed by Oliver Hermanus and written by Ben Shattuck, premiering at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2025. The movie has since won three awards and been nominated nine times. After watching it, I can see why, and I immediately knew I wanted to write an affectionate review for such an affectionate film. That said, I could write what the movie was about, and I could write what the movie was really about. The nuance in interpretation may sound minute, but worth exploring to understand in depth. The film is a soft gay romance, showing how two men fall in love. It centers around these two men, Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O’Connor), although the story is essentially told from Lionel’s point of view. It is set at the brink of World War I in 1917 when David is drafted into the military. Just before being drafted, David and Lionel meet in a bar when Lionel noticed David playing an old folksong from his home in Kentucky. It sparked an instant connection sealed by their shared love of music. They were both gifted in music, with Lionel described as having synesthesia, seeing colors in sound, and David having a photographic memory with sound, being able to play or sing to music he’s only heard once. Upon David’s return from being stationed in Europe, the two instantly reconnect and set upon a field research journey to collect and archive regional folk music, hence the name The History of Sound. In their quest, their love is allowed to blossom, and all is well until David decides to part ways after they finish their quest.
The movie’s tone then changes, and while Lionel continues about his life, having even dated a woman, his heart is empty. Lionel returns to his hometown, and eventually begins to search for David, only to be surprised by what he finds. It is set in a time when such a circumstance was unspeakable and must be kept secret. It was different from a lot of gay romances in that it didn’t center on sex, but rather their mutual connection. As a matter of fact, the sex scenes (both straight and gay) were tasteful and not lewd, which contributed to the soft atmosphere. The movie suggests that the heart wants what the heart wants, and it is up to us to decide whether to follow the heart’s desire and truly live, or to follow what is expected of us and suffer. I liked that the taboo was subliminal, not overtly spoken about, requiring a historical assumption that homosexuality was, and is, viewed as a shameful practice. It was like they knew their fate was already set in stone. The weight of the social fabric dictating gender roles and social norms was already ingrained without even needing the language to say it out loud. Despite the movie being about two men falling in love, it isn’t a “gay” movie inasmuch “straight” people should really watch it to see the beauty in love is love. In the end, it shows why love must be honored.
The movie made me feel a wide range of emotions, oscillating from bliss, grief, anger, to love. I’ll admit that I became enthralled with its tragic beauty. I enjoyed seeing love unfolding in a way that felt natural. The director’s choices truly made it feel intimate, as if you’re getting a peek into a tale that was real and recited by old memories. The grief is striking, with multiple layers of it built into the story that adds to its humanity. Honestly, it reminded me of a gothic romance in how the story unfolded. The dialog was elegant, yet simple, avoiding superfluousness often seen in historical romances. Hailing from Appalachia myself, it was heartwarming to see a depiction of how my ancestors lived back in the early 1900’s, where the movie is partially set. Lionel reminded me of myself with his simple roots in a small town yet connected to the world in his quest for a meaningful life. I don’t believe I connected to this film because I am also a gay man. I connected to this film because I’ve felt the love that was being depicted, as a human being. I ended up watching the movie on Blu-ray late at night with my partner, and even though he fell asleep towards the end, the ending made me look at him with love and appreciation. It prompted me to imagine how lost I’d be without him in my life.
Really, there were a myriad of things about the movie I loved; it was extremely well-executed. I will mention some particular aspects that stood out for me personally. As a published researcher myself, the research aspect of the film was brilliant. Romance aside, it was so lovely to see a depiction of field-collecting data that isn’t often seen. The movie literally shows the entire process of data collection, participant recruitment, and ethical considerations (or lack thereof, but noted). It was also nice seeing a “rural country boy” from Kentucky becoming world-renowned and recognized for his gift in music. Perhaps not a rags-to-riches trope, but he surely went from nothing to something. It is not often folks from Appalachia travel outside their own counties, much less the country. It was truly inspiring to see him take advantage of his gift and it was a meaningful part of the story. That said, it also wasn’t a perfect film, although perfection is hard to define outside of subjectivity in movies. The story was a bit drawn out and could’ve been made much shorter with how it was depicted. At times, it felt like the director was beating a dead horse, or more accurately, twisting the knife used to stab my heart. It required an emotional investment to enjoy in full capacity, which may not appeal to average viewers, LGBT aside. I also would note that the tragedy would’ve landed much better had there been more emphasis on David’s internal struggles/pain. I think the movie would be near perfection had it switched perspective midway to tell David’s point of view.
I’m not going to lie; the movie made me cry. I believe that if you have a heart, have felt love/loss, or are able to step in the shoes of others, you’ll at least shed a tear. The film moves you in ways art is supposed to. I suppose I should’ve expected the ending, but I also didn’t want to believe it. This is a film I would recommend anyone to watch, whether they are LGBT or not. It is a story about our humanity, our capacity for love, and the weight of grief on who we are as people. The cinematography, storytelling, and music all come together beautifully to tell a tale that anyone can relate to. The portrayal of Appalachian America was tasteful and accurate, same as with the treatment of queerness in historical contexts. The minor details mentioned earlier keep this movie from being 4 or even 5 stars, truly remarkable for a standalone independent film.
