A love of music – or, more specifically, folk music – is the driving force behind the tender, heartbreaking romance at the core of The History of Sound, an ironically quiet tale of song collecting and enduring connection between two men in the early 1900s.
The story is experienced predominantly through the life of Lionel (Paul Mescal), who grew up somewhat isolated on farmland with his musically-inclined parents (Raphael Sbarge and Molly Price). Lionel hones a natural gift for singing, and it’s why he’s able to attend the Boston Conservatory on a scholarship, and it’s here, in 1917, where he meets David (Josh O’Connor). Though they attend the Conservatory together, it’s a night out at a local pub, where David is tickling the ivories and singing familiar folk tunes, that truly grabs Lionel’s attention.
Curiosity and a shared love of sound leads to an intimate relationship, and though two men enjoying each other’s company in such a manner would cause particular trouble in such a time, Ben Shattuck‘s script (based on his own short stories) thankfully avoids such danger of them ever being caught. Not that their union is ever safe though, with outside threats continually driving distance between the two, namely when David goes off to World War I.
Avoiding complete tragedy, David returns, but his demeanor feels different to Lionel, and though they continue their romance across backwater Maine on a song-collecting tour as part of an academic research project, there’s a lingering sense that their love for one another won’t be enough. Shattuck and director Oliver Hermanus (Living) look into the painful process of longing through David and Lionel’s relationship, and though it would seem as if Lionel is the one that stands to hurt the most from David’s eventual disappearance from his life, as the story unfolds there’s some heartbreaking realisations as to what David harboured for all his years.
With gay men being able to be so open and celebratory of their love, a film like The History of Sound in 2025, once again, brings a certain perspective as to how fortunate men of today can live. This film isn’t necessarily a proud look at a relationship between two men – they’re both heavily closeted and, eventually, they marry women, which was practically expected in those times – but it is no less immaculately tender. The true sense of pride comes from the moments they are together, where they don’t need to acknowledge their union, but simply just exist in it.
It’s a beautiful film, without question, but it’s also one that’s quite deliberate in how it moves with purpose. This isn’t an exciting film in terms of lush visuals or digestible pacing. No, The History of Sound takes its time in exploring the soul of Lionel and David’s reason for one another, and, to some, it may be too tepid, but if you’re willing to surrender to the cause, Hermanus truly delivers with romantic reason.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The History of Sound is screening in Australian theatres from December 18th, 2025.
