The History of Sound

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