The History of Sound 2025: True Story, Reviews, Watch Guide

Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor trade modern stardom for muddy boots and folk songs in The History of Sound, a period romance that premiered at Cannes in May 2025. The film follows two young men who travel through post-WWI Maine recording folk music, and it has already sparked conversation for both its tender queer romance and the performances that anchor it.

Director: Oliver Hermanus ·
Stars: Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor ·
Release Year: 2025 ·
Genre: Period romance ·
Based On: Short story by Ben Shattuck

Six key facts that set the stage for The History of Sound:

Is The History of Sound a true story?

What is the book The History of Sound based on?

• The film is adapted from Ben Shattuck’s short story of the same name, originally published in his collection The History of Sound (Wikipedia).
• The characters Lionel and David are entirely fictional — there is no known real-life pair that matches their story.

Are Lionel and David real people?

• No. According to the Festival de Cannes synopsis, Lionel leaves a Kentucky farm in 1917 to attend the Boston Music Conservatory; David is a fellow student. Both are products of Shattuck’s imagination.

The implication: viewers expecting a biographical drama will find a wholly invented story rooted in period atmosphere, not historical figures.

What is the story of The History of Sound?

Who are Lionel and David?

• Lionel (Paul Mescal) is a young man from a Kentucky farm who travels to Boston in 1917 to study music. David (Josh O’Connor) is another student at the conservatory. They meet, form a bond, and eventually embark on a journey in the winter of 1920 through rural Maine to record folk songs (Festival de Cannes).

What is the setting of the film?

• The story unfolds against the backdrop of WWI and its aftermath. The central episode takes place in the forests and islands of Maine in winter 1920, as the two men walk the landscape collecting folk music (Festival de Cannes).

What this means: the film uses the folk-song collecting mission as a framing device for a slow-burn romance that reveals itself through silence, landscape, and the music they preserve together.

Is The History of Sound worth seeing?

What do critics say?

• The Guardian (UK newspaper) called it “tiresomely mournful awe at its own sadness,” a mixed review that highlights the film’s emotional weight but criticizes its pacing.
• Rotten Tomatoes aggregates Tomatometer scores (check current rating) from top critics; early indicators suggest a polarized response.

What is the audience reaction?

• Audience feedback on social media and letterboxd forums leans toward admiration for the lead performances, with some viewers finding the narrative too sparse. Official audience scores were not yet published at time of writing.

The trade-off: if you value subtle, atmospheric character studies anchored by powerhouse acting, this film delivers. If you prefer plot-driven narratives, the meditative tone may feel frustrating.

Where can I watch The History of Sound in Ireland?

Is it in Irish cinemas?

• As of September 2025, the film has screened at select venues including the Irish Film Institute in Dublin (check current schedule). No wide Irish theatrical release has been announced (Irish Film Institute (national cinema institution)).

Is it on streaming services?

• MUBI, the distributor in several markets, may stream the film after its theatrical window. In Ireland, check MUBI Ireland (streaming platform) for availability. Apple TV and Prime Video listings are region-dependent.

Why this matters: for Irish viewers eager to see the film, the lack of a wide release means timing is key — monitor MUBI and IFI schedules closely.

Is The History of Sound a queer film?

How is the romance portrayed?

• The central relationship between Lionel and David is a romantic one, though the film treats it with restraint. The Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator) labels it as an LGBTQ+ title, and MUBI (streaming distributor) calls it an “aching romance” between two men.

What is the director’s background?

• Oliver Hermanus previously directed Moffie (2019), a film about a gay conscript in apartheid-era South Africa. His body of work consistently explores LGBTQ+ themes (Wikipedia (biographical source)).

The pattern: the film fits squarely within a tradition of period queer love stories that prioritize melancholy and atmosphere over explicit depiction.

Confirmed facts

• The film is fictional, not based on a true story.
• It premiered at Cannes on 2025-05-21.
• It features a queer romance between the two leads.
• Rated R for some sexuality (Rotten Tomatoes).

What’s unclear

• Exact release dates beyond the U.S. (2025-09-12) are not confirmed for all markets.
• Full list of streaming platforms for Ireland and the UK remains unannounced.
• Audience consensus on review sites is still forming.

“The History of Sound is a period romance film directed by Oliver Hermanus and written by Ben Shattuck.”

Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)

“The Guardian’s review described it as ‘tiresomely mournful awe at its own sadness’ – a film that ‘wants you to feel its pain more than its joy’.”

The Guardian (UK newspaper)

“Oliver Hermanus’ film interweaves folk tunes with autumnal imagery and presents a love story whose reverberations last a lifetime.”

MUBI (streaming distributor)

For Irish film fans, the choice is clear: catch it at the IFI during its limited run, or wait for a MUBI streaming release. Either way, The History of Sound rewards patience with quiet, lasting resonance — but demands it, too.

For a different perspective on the film’s historical context, check out this Spanish-language review of the film.

Frequently asked questions