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The History of Sound

Play trailer Poster for The History of Sound 2025 Drama History Romance LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 28 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
"The History of Sound" follows two young men -- Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O'Connor) -- in the shadows of WWI who are determined to record the lives, voices and music of their American countrymen. As they begin to log the events, the two fall in love.

Critics Reviews

View All (28) Critics Reviews
Stephanie Zacharek TIME Magazine The performances are remarkable, particularly Mescal’s—just to watch him listening is galvanizing. May 28, 2025 Full Review Esther Zuckerman The Daily Beast The History of Sound is a slow, and largely tame affair. May 27, 2025 Full Review Robert Daniels RogerEbert.com “The History of Sound,” is a trite bore. May 24, 2025 Full Review Diego Batlle Otroscines.com Everyone gives their all, but the film—captivating, climactic, suggestive—has a certain déjà vu quality, of overwrought, even solemn cinema.[Full review in Spanish] Rated: 3/5 May 27, 2025 Full Review Joonatan Itkonen Toisto.net The History of Sound captures the vibrations of love and memory throughout our lives, and how they echo in ways we can't comprehend far into the future. Rated: 5/5 May 25, 2025 Full Review Radhika Seth Vogue Mescal and O’Connor have their breakthrough moments, too, naturally, but it’s just not enough to lift the film out of its general mood of bleak and desolate austerity, nor to pierce through the gray patina that seems to hang over everything. May 22, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Oliver Hermanus

Director

Paul Mescal

Lionel

Josh O'Connor

David

Peter Mark Kendall

Nathan

Chris Cooper

Older Lionel

Molly Price

Lionel's Mother

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The History of Sound

The History of Sound (2025) The History of Sound (2025) The History of Sound (2025) The History of Sound (2025) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis "The History of Sound" follows two young men -- Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O'Connor) -- in the shadows of WWI who are determined to record the lives, voices and music of their American countrymen. As they begin to log the events, the two fall in love.
Director
Oliver Hermanus
Producer
Oliver Hermanus, Andrew Kortschak, Sara Murphy, Thérèsa Ryan, Zhang Xin
Screenwriter
Ben Shattuck, Oliver Hermanus
Production Co
Closer Media, Film4, End Cue, Kino Produzioni
Genre
Drama, History, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English