‘The History of Sound' Trailer: Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor Fall in Love Over Folk Music

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3 days ago

Two of the indie film world's favorite young actors will share the screen this fall in what many are already clocking as an award season contender to watch.
Oliver Hermanus' 'The History of Sound' made waves at Cannes for its sensitive portrayal of a love affair between Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor. The film was acquired by MUBI, which will roll the film out theatrically in September as the Oscar race begins to take shape.
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The film begins in 1917, where budding, preternaturally gifted musician Lionel (Mescal) first meets David (O'Connor) at the Boston Conservatory, where they bond over their shared love of folk music. They reconnect years later when David asks Lionel to join him on an impromptu journey through New England to collect traditional folk songs. That journey paves the way for a romance — set against the music they're preserving — that will change the course of Lionel's life.
'The History of Sound' received positive reviews at Cannes, with IndieWire's Ryan Lattanzio writing that 'The false notes are rare in director Oliver Hermanus' affecting and dustily textured romance 'The History of Sound,' written by Ben Shattuck from his own short story about men in love, together and apart, circa World War I and its aftermath. But for a queer love story starring two of the hottest, of-this-moment leading actors around — Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor— 'The History of Sound' almost perversely denies your expectations of what a gay romance could be.'
The film's willingness to defy expectations extends to its approach to sex scenes, opting to tell a softer love story without explicit intimacy. Speaking to IndieWire at Cannes, Mescal said he appreciated that approach and thinks it benefits the story.
'I've done my fair share of sex scenes, I'm like, 'been there, done that,'' Mescal said. 'What feels slightly different about this from [other] romantic relationships onscreen, I would say in the hierarchy of their relationship, physical touch isn't the priority. It's intellectual stimulation, it's friendship. Not that they're not physically attracted to each other; they very much are, but their chemistry is born from this shared love of these folk songs, and it extends from there.'
A MUBI release, 'The History of Sound' opens in theaters on Friday, September 12. Watch the trailer below.
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