The History of Sound
Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor star as young men whose mutual love for music turns into romance in the latest period film from South African director Oliver Hermanus
Oliver Hermanus' latest, The History of Sound, serves as a fusion, of sorts, between his last few acclaimed period films: South African queer drama Moffie and his English-language Ikiru remake Living. It tells the story of a secret romance between two men (partly) set against the backdrop of a real war, with an older man looking back on what he's managed to accomplish in his life. The latter element is told as bookends with narration and an onscreen appearance by the ever-reliable Chris Cooper, while the majority of the film follows Paul Mescal as the character's younger self across two decades.
In Boston, 1917, Kentucky-raised music student Lionel (Mescal) finds a kindred spirit in David (Josh O'Connor), a peer who shares his affinity for folk music. Owing to issues with his eyesight, Lionel is extra sensitive to sounds, and that medical matter means he's not called up for the draft when America gets involved in World War I, unlike David. When David returns from Europe, he invites Lionel on a reportedly university-funded trip across New England to record folk songs from various walks of life, for historical posterity – it's an endeavour that both deepens and fractures the men's relationship.
Adapted by writer Ben Shattuck from his own short stories, The History of Sound feels too muted in its direction and pacing for many stretches of its runtime. But the epilogue with Cooper proves very effective in bringing palpable passion and crucial context to a story that skimps on a few too many character details.
Released 23 Jan by Universal; certificate 15