The History of Sound

by Mike McGranaghan

We all know that one person who seems to understand music at a preternatural level. In The History of Sound, that person is David (Josh O’Connor), a musician who can hear a song once and instantly have it memorized. At a music conservatory, he meets Lionel (Paul Mescal), a Kentucky farm boy who claims he can see, feel, and even taste music. These two were bound to hit it off. “Hit it off,” however, doesn’t even begin to describe what they come to mean to one another.

A quick friendship turns romantic. Then David gets sent off to fight in WWI, separating the men for several years. Upon discharge, he invites Lionel to go on a song-collecting mission with him. They visit the most rural parts of the South, using wax cylinders to record folk songs passed down generationally by the people they meet. The relationship evolves more during this time, becoming stronger in some areas and weaker in others. I won’t even hint at where the road takes them from there.

The History of Sound is a slow-burn kind of picture. You won’t find a lot of overt action. Instead, drama is mined from how the men relate – the looks they give, the body language they communicate with. Sometimes you can tell they feel something they aren’t willing to say. Other times, they say things they don’t necessarily feel. The point is that they live in a time when same-sex romances are not widely accepted so they have to balance their passion with their professional goals.

O’Connor and Mescal are fantastic together, powerfully getting across the love that exists between David and Lionel. Both actors give subtle performances, filled with little nuances that emphasize the emotions of the characters. In a movie like this, where as much gets said in the quiet moments as in the louder ones, having a central relationship you care about becomes essential. The stars do that, bringing across the ups and downs of the men’s bond in a manner that proves affecting. The great Chris Cooper shows up at the end, playing an older Lionel, and he helps the film’s coda deliver a satisfying payoff.

Aside from the love story, the movie’s look at early sound recording is fascinating. A scene where Lionel explains to a family how his new-fangled machine works is one of the highlights, partially because it’s educational and partially because he relates the specifics in such an affectionate manner. There’s even a hint of humor in certain scenes, like when a prospective singer asks if she’s going to “feel anything” from the device.

The History of Sound is a beautiful, moving film for the way it captures the passion David and Lionel have for each other, as well as for the elegant music that holds great meaning to them. Director Oliver Hermanus (Living) sets just the right tone for the romance, while Ben Shattuck’s screenplay nicely conveys the idea that music is always there to provide the soundtrack to our lives. All the way around, this movie’s a stunner.

---