The History of Sound

The History of Sound is a 2025 period romance drama film directed by Oliver Hermanus, written by Ben Shattuck, and based on a pair of his short stories: "The History of Sound" and "Origin Stories". It follows the relationship between two men, Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O'Connor), who meet in 1917 while attending the New England Conservatory, and after World War I travel together recording folk songs of their countrymen in rural Maine in the winter of 1920. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 21, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or. It was released in the United States by Mubi on September 12.