The Wasteland Reviewer

The History of Sound (2025) Written Review

What is the power of music in the lives of people? Music is such a powerful art form that it is full of expression, passion, feeling, and thought. This is one of the purest forms of expression for human beings. Someone can leave it all hanging out with the power of their voice and the poignancy of their words. A film like The History of Sound puts music at the forefront and uses it as the bedrock for the more human elements of the film. This is a love story between two men at a time when that could simply not work but their connection over music is hard to break. 

How does Oliver Hermanus bring this love story and the music to life on screen? Some of the most poignant and powerful moments of the film are those centered on music. Getting a chance to hear Lionel (Paul Mescal) sing for the first time just might be the most impactful moment in the whole film. The way Hermanus leverages music into his narrative is quite powerful. The presentation of music in the film balances impressive emotion (from the performers), exquisite sound design, and intimate camerawork (from cinematographer Alexander Dynan). There is a tender and at times somber feeling to the film that is engrossing. The pacing of the film is lacking at times making this film drag especially as it runs over two hours long too. The film could have benefited from a bit more fire at times which unfortunately keeps the audience at too much of a distance to reach its full potential. 

Does the screenplay from Ben Shattuck explore its major themes in effective ways? From a music perspective, this film works quite well. The sequences of seeing Lionel and his lover, David, connect with local folks and explore their music and culture gives the film some powerful and engaging moments. Shattuck’s script does give these two characters (Lionel and David) space to grow and build empathy with the audience. The film even delivers a bit of an epilogue towards the end that ties this musically inclined element of the film together in a powerful way. The overall story of the film feels a little too episodic to keep the momentum going and keep the audience fully engaged. The film leans into some familiar beats with forbidden romances especially in a period setting like this. There are some twists and turns that help spice up the film after much of the first half of the film plays quite safely. There are some harrowing realizations in the back half of the film that deepen the experience for sure. 

Does this talented duo help elevate Hermanus’ The History of Sound? Mescal is a great talent who has been exploring some exciting roles recently after getting him an Oscar nomination for Aftersun. The role of Lionel is an interesting and compelling one. A talented singer whose journey takes him into the lives of those musically inclined across America, Lionel is a reserved man whose emotions are boiling underneath the surface. Mescal plays this role with authenticity and maturity that makes him a presence he easily invests in. O’Connor on the other hand is a much more electric and alluring presence with his role of David. Enigmatic and layered, David is a character who brings so much passion and love yet is someone with a measure of sadness underneath the surface. The chemistry between Mescal and O’Connor is quite poignant for the material they are given. Chris Cooper has a small yet impactful role as an older Lionel. Cooper is a great character actor who brings plenty of dimensions to his role despite how limited the screen time is. 

Is The History of Sound a strong addition to the Mubi collection? The dynamic duo of Mescal and O’Connor is a pleasure to watch on screen. Their relationship is deepened by their performances even if the film does only marginally well in fleshing out their dynamic. The heart and soul of the film is the music. The way the musical performances come to life on screen is affecting and makes for some of the best moments in the film. This period trappings are quite exquisite and help Hermanus’ film feel so authentic.