The History of Sound

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1:02

The History of Sound

R

2025

2h 7m

Romance

Drama

LGBTQ+

History

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

142 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

100+ Verified 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.

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Critics Consensus

Its drawn-out pacing and overly familiar trajectory undermine its potential to truly surprise, but The History of Sound nonetheless offers a visually stunning and well-acted journey through its melancholic exploration of human connection.

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Udita Jhunjhunwala

Livemint

Jan 27

...the film is confident in its choices, content to let the music and its lead actors do the heavy lifting, as Lionel and David fight battles both externally and internally.

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Laura Venning

Empire Magazine

Jan 27

4/5

A profoundly affecting story of doomed love and lost time that boasts captivating performances from Mescal and O’Connor. Come for the boys, stay for the magic of storytelling through song.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

Jan 26

I thought it was a beautiful film.

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Robert W. Butler

Butler's Cinema Scene

Jul 21

B+

The acting… well, as if I didn’t already love Paul Mescal to pieces, he here so fully inhabits Lionel that we can almost hear his thoughts beneath that respectful reticence.

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Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

May 22

2/5

While the narrative remains frustratingly superficial—technically polished yet dramatically inert, most of the film feels trapped in repetition, particularly during the musical interludes, which tend to weaken rather than deepen the emotional current.

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Apr 23

2.5/5

... our lives are built by the sounds around us. Hermanus does capture this with his film and our hearts do ache for the love that will not be; it’s just a shame that everything else within the tale isn’t something we care to linger within, as well.

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Thomas M

Oct 28

this is a deeply felt, compassionate, thoughtful movie. it's lovingly breaks your heart.

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Gabe

Oct 18

Really good story, felt a little long but worth the payoff and such a beautiful ending.

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Skip

Oct 18

A subtle and haunting love story pockmarked by the strenght of the human spirits as it champions undenialable love.

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Sue D.

Oct 18

Sensitively and beautifully done. We had time for discussion afterward which was terrific.

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Steve R

Oct 11

Excellent on all levels

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Michael H

Oct 5

This is a beautifully simple, artful, and emotional film. The dramatic restraint and pace mirrors its subject matter. I was swept up by the beauty and ache of the story.

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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

The History of Sound: Exclusive Movie Clip - Window

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The History of Sound: Movie Clip - Singing Love Songs

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The History of Sound: Featurette - On Set with Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor

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The History of Sound: Trailer 2

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The History of Sound: Trailer 1

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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
Distributor: MUBI
Production Co: Closer Media, Film4, End Cue, Kino Produzioni
Rating: R (Some Sexuality)
Genre: Romance, Drama, LGBTQ+, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2025, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $833.8K
Runtime: 2h 7m