The History of Sound
Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:07:49 PM Wikipedia source
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 Boston 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.
Infobox
Directed by
Oliver Hermanus
Screenplay by
Ben Shattuck
Based on
"The History of Sound" by Ben Shattuck
Produced by
mw- Sara Murphy Andrew Kortschak Lisa Ciuffetti Thérèsa Ryan-Van Graan Oliver Hermanus Zhang Xin
Starring
Paul Mescal Josh O'Connor Chris Cooper
Cinematography
Alexander Dynan
Edited by
Chris Wyatt
Productioncompanies
Closer Media Film4 Tango Entertainment Storm City Films End Cue Fat City
Distributed by
Mubi (United States and Canada) Universal Pictures & Focus Features (International)
Release dates
May 21, 2025 (2025-05-21) (Cannes) September 12, 2025 (2025-09-12) (United States)
Running time
128 minutes
Countries
United States United Kingdom
Language
English
Box office
$1 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
Award
Cannes Film Festival
Date of ceremony
24 May 2025
Category
Palme d'Or
Recipient(s)
Oliver Hermanus
Result
Nominated
Queer Palm
Queer Palm
Award
Queer Palm
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Miskolc International Film Festival
Miskolc International Film Festival
Award
Miskolc International Film Festival
Date of ceremony
13 September 2025
Category
Emeric Pressburger Prize
Recipient(s)
The History of Sound
Result
Nominated
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Cannes Film Festival | 24 May 2025 | Palme d'Or | Oliver Hermanus | Nominated | |
| Queer Palm | Nominated | ||||
| Miskolc International Film Festival | 13 September 2025 | Emeric Pressburger Prize | The History of Sound | Nominated |
References
- History of Soundhttps://variety.com/2024/film/global/paul-mescal-history-of-sound-producer-josh-oconnor-1236192218/
- The History of Soundhttps://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-history-of-sound-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdmynzix
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/movie/History-of-Sound-The-(2025)#tab=box-office
- Festival de Canneshttps://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/the-history-of-sound/
- Festival de Canneshttps://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/the-films-of-the-official-selection-2025/
- Showbiz by PShttps://www.showbizbyps.com/movies/the-history-of-sound
- News24https://www.news24.com/channel/movies/news/sa-filmmaker-oliver-hermanus-to-direct-new-film-starring-josh-oconnor-and-paul-mescal-20211029
- The History Of Soundhttps://deadline.com/2021/10/josh-oconnor-paul-mescal-the-history-of-sound-movie-gay-romance-1234864906/
- The History of Soundhttps://awardswatch.com/the-history-of-sound-wont-be-ready-for-fall-festivals-aims-for-cannes-2025-exclusive/
- The History of Soundhttps://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/paul-mescal-says-gay-drama-the-history-of-sound-with-josh-oconnor-wont-happen-this-year-403536/
- News24https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/film/oliver-hermanus-delayed-film-with-josh-oconnor-and-paul-mescal-coming-to-fruition-3-years-later-20230519
- Backstagehttps://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/paul-mescal-movie-casting-now-75886/
- The History of Soundhttps://www.gaytimes.co.uk/originals/the-history-of-sound-paul-mescal-josh-o-connor-on-fire-gay-drama/
- "Josh O'Connor on 'The Mastermind', 'The History of Sound', His Secret Spielberg Film & How Harris Dickinson Has Inspired Him to Direct"https://deadline.com/2025/05/josh-oconnor-the-mastermind-the-history-of-sound-spielberg-1236394577/
- The History of Soundhttps://www.hobokengirl.com/history-of-sound-movie-hoboken-10th-willow
- Digital Spyhttps://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a60160872/paul-mescal-josh-oconnor-history-of-sound/
- Freehold Township Heritage Societyhttps://www.oakleyfarmmuseum.org/newsletters
- Tatlerhttps://www.tatler.com/article/everything-we-know-about-the-history-of-sound-paul-mescal-josh-oconnor
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/global/paul-mescal-josh-oconnor-history-of-sound-mubi-1236306376/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/festivals/cannes-film-festival-2025-lineup-1236364723/
- Festival de Canneshttps://www.festival-cannes.com/en/2025/the-screenings-guide-of-the-78th-festival-de-cannes/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/06/mubis-the-history-of-sound-release-date-1236435753/
- Innis Collegehttps://innis.utoronto.ca/events/the-history-of-sound/
- The History of Soundhttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_history_of_sound
- The History of Soundhttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-history-of-sound
- Cineuropahttps://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/477801/
- Programmkinohttps://www.programmkino.de/filmkritiken/the-history-of-sound-2/
- Festival de Canneshttps://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/the-films-of-the-official-selection-2025/
- CineFesthttps://www.cinefest.hu/hir/norwegian-american-kazakh-and-iraqi-films-among-the-winners-the-awards-of-the-21st-cinefest-miskolc-international-film-festival-have-been-presented/?lang=en