Latest news with #BostonMusicConservatory
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes Film Festival Photos Day 9: Paul Mescal, Elle Fanning, Renate Reinsve, ‘The History of Sound' & ‘Sentimental Value' Premieres
The 77th Cannes Film Festival continues on Day 9 with two world premieres: Oliver Hermanus's The History of Sound, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor, and director Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value, which reunites him with The Worst Person in the World actress Renate Reinsve. Guests at the premiere for The History of Sound included Teri Hatcher, Taraji P. Henson, Aja Naomi King, John C. Reilly, Julian Assange, Michelle Rodriguez, Edward Enninful, Naomi Campbell, Jenny Slate More from Deadline Mubi Acquires Kleber Mendonça Filho's Cannes Competition Title 'The Secret Agent' Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value' Wows Cannes In Premiere, Gets Extraordinary 19-Minute Ovation Cannes Film Festival 2025: Read All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews RELATED: 'Eddington' Cannes Film Festival Premiere Photos: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler & More Mescal stars as Lionel, a gifted singer from rural Kentucky, who leaves his family farm in 1917 to attend the Boston Music Conservatory. There, he meets David (O'Connor), a charming music student soon drafted into the war. In 1920, the two spend the winter in Maine, passionately collecting folk songs. As Lionel builds a successful life in Europe, he's continually drawn back to the profound, lingering impact of his brief time with David, eventually uncovering why their connection resonated so deeply. Sentimental Value follows sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) as they reconnect with their estranged father, Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), a once-celebrated director. Gustav, still charismatic, offers stage actress Nora a leading role in what he hopes will be his triumphant comeback film. However, when Nora declines, she's blindsided to learn he's handed her part to an eager young Hollywood star. Suddenly, the sisters are forced to confront their complicated relationship with their father, all while grappling with the chaotic arrival of an American star thrust into their already complex family dynamic. The cast also features Elle Fanning, Bjørn Alexander and Jesper Christensen. Pressers and photocalls today at Palais des Festivals included Fuori; Un Simple Accident; The Disappearance of Josef Mengele; Homebound, and A Private Life. RELATED: Cannes Film Festival 2025: Read All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews Buzzy world premieres this week have included Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest; A Private Life starring Jody Foster; Ari Aster's star-studded film Eddington, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone; Die My Love, with Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence; New Wave, directed by Richard Linklater, starring Guillaume Marbeck, Aubry Dullin, and Zoey Deutch; Kristen Stewart's directorial debut The Chronology of Water; and director Dominik Moll's Dossier 137 starring Léa Drucker. RELATED: Deadline Studio at Cannes Film Festival 2025 Over the past two weeks, the jury, led by Juliette Binoche, will evaluate the 21 films in competition and award the Palme d'Or, Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor. The winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on May 24, immediately followed by the screening of Momoko Sato's Dandelion's Odyssey. Check back for up-to-date photos from the festival of the parties, press junkets, and premieres from the Cannes Film Festival that runs from May 13-24. Best of Deadline Every 'The Voice' Winner Since Season 1, Including 9 Team Blake Champions Everything We Know About 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' So Far 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The History Of Sound' With Paul Mescal & Josh O'Connor Gets 9-Minute Ovation In Cannes
The Cannes Film Festival competition this evening tuned into The History of Sound, director Oliver Hermanus' first time in the main theater. It was met with a nine-minute ovation that only slowed as they had to load in the next film premiere. The long-in-the-works period movie stars Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor in a story of love and music that spans decades. More from Deadline 'The History Of Sound' Review: Paul Mescal And Josh O'Connor Make Beautiful Music Together In Moving Love Story – Cannes Film Festival Cannes Film Festival Photos Day 9: Paul Mescal, Oliver Hermanus, 'The History of Sound' Premiere Neon Takes North American On Buzzy Brazilian Pic 'The Secret Agent'; Can Distrib Go Six Palme d'Ors In A Row? - Cannes In his remarks to the crowd following the screening, Hermanus praised 'the genius that is Paul Mescal.' Mescal plays Lionel, a talented singer from rural Kentucky raised on the songs his father sang. In 1917, he leaves his family farm to attend the Boston Music Conservatory and meets David (O'Connor), a charming composing student who is soon drafted into the end of WWI. In 1920, the two spend a winter walking through the forests and islands of Maine. Lionel drifts through Europe in his twenties and thirties, building a new life of profound success and happiness, and experiencing new loves. Yet he is constantly drawn back to memories of his brief time with David, trying to understand the impact of their relationship. Eventually, a reminder of their work together reveals why their connection rang loud. RELATED: O'Connor has two movies here in Cannes this year, with Kelly Reichardt's art heist picture The Mastermind due to debut later this week. He previously told Deadline that The History of Sound 'plays into that feeling of nostalgia and regret and loss… What's so beautiful about it is this feeling of song and of music. When you listen to a piece of music and it transports you to a certain place or a time, and if you close your eyes, you can feel like you are actually there.' O'Conner did not attend tonight's premiere due to work commitments, but Hermanus praised him nonetheless in his post-screening remarks. Best of Deadline Every 'The Voice' Winner Since Season 1, Including 9 Team Blake Champions Everything We Know About 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' So Far 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes Film Festival Photos Day 9: Paul Mescal, Elle Fanning, Renate Reinsve, ‘The History of Sound' & ‘Sentimental Value' Premieres
The 77th Cannes Film Festival continues on Day 9 with two world premieres: Oliver Hermanus's The History of Sound, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor, and director Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value, which reunites him with The Worst Person in the World actress Renate Reinsve. Guests at the premiere for The History of Sound included Teri Hatcher, Taraji P. Henson, Aja Naomi King, John C. Reilly, Julian Assange, Michelle Rodriguez, Edward Enninful, Naomi Campbell, Jenny Slate More from Deadline Sales Agency First Slate International Debuts With Genre Features Including 'Surviving Silence' & 'Those Who Call' - Cannes Market Why Jodie Foster Hasn't Acted More In French Films Like 'A Private Life': "I Was Too Scared" - Cannes Sony Pictures Acquires Remake Rights To French Box Office Hit 'A Little Something Extra' - Cannes RELATED: 'Eddington' Cannes Film Festival Premiere Photos: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler & More Mescal stars as Lionel, a gifted singer from rural Kentucky, who leaves his family farm in 1917 to attend the Boston Music Conservatory. There, he meets David (O'Connor), a charming music student soon drafted into the war. In 1920, the two spend the winter in Maine, passionately collecting folk songs. As Lionel builds a successful life in Europe, he's continually drawn back to the profound, lingering impact of his brief time with David, eventually uncovering why their connection resonated so deeply. Sentimental Value follows sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) as they reconnect with their estranged father, Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), a once-celebrated director. Gustav, still charismatic, offers stage actress Nora a leading role in what he hopes will be his triumphant comeback film. However, when Nora declines, she's blindsided to learn he's handed her part to an eager young Hollywood star. Suddenly, the sisters are forced to confront their complicated relationship with their father, all while grappling with the chaotic arrival of an American star thrust into their already complex family dynamic. The cast also features Elle Fanning, Bjørn Alexander and Jesper Christensen. Pressers and photocalls today at Palais des Festivals included Fuori; Un Simple Accident; The Disappearance of Josef Mengele; Homebound, and A Private Life. RELATED: Cannes Film Festival 2025: Read All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews Buzzy world premieres this week have included Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest; A Private Life starring Jody Foster; Ari Aster's star-studded film Eddington, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone; Die My Love, with Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence; New Wave, directed by Richard Linklater, starring Guillaume Marbeck, Aubry Dullin, and Zoey Deutch; Kristen Stewart's directorial debut The Chronology of Water; and director Dominik Moll's Dossier 137 starring Léa Drucker. RELATED: Deadline Studio at Cannes Film Festival 2025 Over the past two weeks, the jury, led by Juliette Binoche, will evaluate the 21 films in competition and award the Palme d'Or, Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor. The winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on May 24, immediately followed by the screening of Momoko Sato's Dandelion's Odyssey. Check back for up-to-date photos from the festival of the parties, press junkets, and premieres from the Cannes Film Festival that runs from May 13-24. Best of Deadline 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘History of Sound' Director Oliver Hermanus on Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor's Deep Romance, Gay Sex Scene Discourse and His Alexander McQueen Biopic
Acclaimed director Oliver Hermanus ('Beauty,' 'Living') is back at the Cannes Film Festival after almost two decades, ready to bring some movie star heat and stir emotions with a lush romantic drama starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor. 'The History of Sound,' first conceived in early 2020 before the onset of coronavirus, instantly generated social media buzz on announcement. At the time, Mescal and O'Connor were fledgling internet boyfriends starring on prestige shows 'Normal People' and 'The Crown,' respectively. Five years later, and they're two of the most in-demand actors in show business. More from Variety Paul Mescal, Diane Kruger and More Toast to Rising Talent at Variety and Golden Globes' Cannes Breakthrough Artist Party India Cine Hub Drives Film Production Growth, International Collaboration Kevin Spacey to Make Surprise Appearance in Cannes to Accept a Lifetime Achievement Award at Better World Fund Gala (EXCLUSIVE) Adapted from a collection of short stories by author Ben Shattuck, the film follows Lionel (Mescal), a talent singer from rural Kentucky with big dreams. Attending the Boston Music Conservatory in 1920, he meets David (O'Connor), who is eventually drafted to war. Their attraction is instant and blossoms into a meaningful but fleeting romance, which Lionel reflects on throughout the course of a celebrated life and career. Variety caught up with Hermanus on the ground in Cannes to discuss the breathless road to production, current depictions of gay sex and intimacy on screen and the anticipated biopic he's got coming next. It's quite strange because, 14 years later, it feels very much the same. Everyone's got money, there's a lot of screaming and things are overpriced. Josh and I have the same agents in the U.K., and he read the short story around the same time as I did. We had a conversation, but then the world went into COVID lockdown and I went back to South Africa. He said to please keep him in my brain when I have a screenplay ready. That was easy to do. I met Paul when I cast him in 'Living,' which he wound up not having time to do. He and Josh also met around the same time. The film was always almost falling apart, but it worked out for us in a nice way and their careers have obviously skyrocketed. I went door-to-door with this movie to all the obvious places. So many people crunched the numbers. I'm pretty sure there's a literal machine at A24, a heavy old Oracle that shoots out a fax with a number. It always says '$8 million,' no matter what. I really couldn't do it for $8 million. Sara Murphy came on as a producer in late 2020 and we went to AFM and places like that [to raise money]. People said to me, 'These guys are wonderful, but they're TV stars.' Talking about Josh on 'The Crown' and Paul in 'Normal People.' Then Josh got 'Challengers' and Paul got 'Gladiator.' Somewhere around the Oscars in 2023, Paul and I were both there and talked to anyone who would listen about this movie. Miraculously, this came together before they got way too old to play these roles. Do you think? I make really sad movies. Yes, it's a very romantic story. It's a profound concept of nostalgia and using the metaphor of sound for how we retain feelings. Before the 20th century, that wasn't possible. How might it feel to hear your parents' voices long after they're dead? And yearning. It's an interesting thing to try to understand. We confuse yearning for obsession and unrequited love. You can long for someone, and not just because they aren't there. It's 2025, and queer audiences want more. We've all seen a lot of tropes, especially when it comes to biopics. I'm working on one right now about Alexander McQueen. He was a gay man, HIV positive, artist, genius, living in the world of fashion with addiction, and then there's suicide. I remember watching [Ryan Murphy's] 'Halston,' and seeing there is a path of queer people being successful and celebrated and flying too close to the sun. They are incinerated in some tragic ending. I think it sticks in our heads that that our lives could potentially go down this path, when our sexuality and lifestyles have a danger or sadness to them. All the secrecy and repression. I've made one, my film 'Beauty.' But I'd like to offer audiences something else, a different queer experience. Can you restore it, though? The cat's out the bag. I love films that have raw sexuality, it'll take a lot for me to be shocked or feel endangered by queer sex. I made a TV show in 2023 called 'Mary and George,' and we would stand on set trying to think of new sex positions. I would turn to Nicholas Galitzine and say, 'What have you not done?' He would go, 'I got fucked that way yesterday. I already did an orgy with that guy the other day. I topped that guy and bottomed for the other.' The intimacy coordinator would come over with an iPad and flip through new positions. It was the point where I was just trying to differentiate a French orgy from a British one, like Legos. There are moments, but I was very determined to not have the assumptions of sex scenes be pivotal, or gear changes in their relationship. That's not the film. They stick together from the first day they meet. What I love is the moments that bring sex about, and then the moments after. Josh's character has this amazing thing where he keeps collecting all the feathers that are falling out of Paul's pillow and stuffing them back in. That's romance. Tradition is such an interesting American theme. We think of America as a young country compared to Europe, but there's a long history and it's fascinating to see these roots. You find things like the songs Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone sang, the songs that Joni Mitchell sang. They all come from this process of other people coming from Ireland and England and Africa to the U.S. to converge into a tapestry. The music goes way back and carries religious and racial context, especially roots in slavery. It shows you how rooted America is in being a country of immigrants. I inherited this after it was in development for many, many years. I've started from scratch. My friend Harry Lighton [director of this year's Cannes entry 'Pillion'] wrote the screenplay for me. McQueen is a hard one. How do you make a biopic about a man who defies a biopic? It has to be form and genre bending. The great Sandy Powell, who I worked with on 'Living,' she and I have been talking a lot about McQueen. If the art of the movie is fashion, that's a really meta moment for someone like Sandy to achieve. It's one of our biggest challenges. If you did a movie about Da Vinci, do you just print out the Mona Lisa? Or do you have someone repaint it? Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
