Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor Bring Tender Queer Romance to WWI in ‘The History of Sound’

By Josh Azevedo Posted on May 2, 2025 Share Tweet Share Share Email Comments

Love, loss, and longing take center stage in The History of Sound, a sweeping queer period drama starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor that’s already generating major buzz ahead of its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Directed by Oliver Hermanus (Mary & George), the film tells a story of connection between two men at a time when being seen—let alone loved—was a risk in itself. And yet, The History of Sound deliberately shifts away from clichés of fear or shame, choosing instead to celebrate intimacy, curiosity, and emotional truth between two queer characters in the early 20th century.

A Queer Love Story Told Through Sound

Adapted from Ben Shattuck’s Pushcart Prize-winning short story, The History of Sound follows Lionel (Mescal) and David (O’Connor), two young men traveling across the United States during World War I to record the voices, songs, and stories of Americans whose lives are shaped by the war.