The film, which received a six minute standing ovation at Cannes, will get a theatrical release on September 19, 2025…
Get ready to step back into the late 1910s. MUBI has released the official trailer and artwork for the upcoming queer drama The History of Sound. The film starring Paul Mescal (Gladiator, All of us Strangers) and Josh O’Connor (Challengers, The Crown), hits theatres September 19.
The two and half minute long trailer is filled with period costumes, Mescal in slutty little glasses and visuals of queer love and joy. It also gives us a preview of the music and soundscapes we can expect from the film.
The black and white poster accompanying the trailer showcases the tenderness between the two men. Both have their eyes closed as Mescal holds O’Connor’s face, there noses coming in contact with each other. It’s a beautiful photo that emits queer passion.
What is The History of Sound about?
Directed by Oliver Hermanus (Living), the film is based on a short story by Ben Shattuck. It centres around a romance that spans decades and continents. It’s a story about a love that can’t last and the ways that music creates bonds between people.
Starting in 1917, Lionel (Mescal) meets David (O’Connor) at the Boston Conservatory. The pair connect over music, which leads to a love affair. Reconnecting years later, the pair go on an impromptu journey through the backwoods of Maine to collect traditional folk songs. The reunion and the music they preserve shapes Lionel’s life for decades to come.
“The History of Sound is not simply the story of queer lives hidden due to a time of denial, of shame and secrecy. It is the story of a man’s life, expressed through the power of sound — as memory, as emotion…” says Hermanus in a press release. “Our film invites you to enjoy song and spirit, to celebrate life in all its wonder — its losses, its grief, its remembrance, and most of all, its undeniable and indelible mark – love.”
How was the film received at Cannes Film Festival?
After premiering at Cannes Film Festival in May, the film received a six minute standing ovation. Variety reported that the film had many audience members weeping.
Overall, critics were divided on the film leading to a series of mixed reviews. BBC gave it two out of five stars, saying it was “too polite.” The Hollywood Reporter called it a “restrained, but heartfelt queer love story.”
The Globe and Mail’s Barry Hertz said that Paul Mescal was “giving Aftersun to the power of 10.” He also warned audiences that it will “turn you into a puddle of mush.”
Many also compared the film to Ang Lee’s queer cowboy love story Brokeback Mountain. The Times even declared it the “Brokeback for today.” At a press conference, Mescal made his feelings known about the comparison, calling it “lazy” and “frustrating.” He told the crowd he didn’t see the parallels between the two films other than a scene in a tent. “This film is fundamentally pointed in the opposite direction,” he said.
While the film overall might have been a hit or miss for critics, they all agreed the two leading men have undeniable chemistry. Deadline said the pair “make beautiful music together in a moving love story.”
We’ll have to wait a few more months to see which critics to agree with. One thing is for sure though – tissues will be needed.
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