Hermanus’ Gay Romance ‘The History of Sound’ Premieres at Cannes Fest (Competition)

Paul Mescal at “The History of Sound” Premiere during The 78th Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 21, 2025 in Cannes, France. — Michael Buckner/Variety

Oscar nominee Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor brought tears to Cannes Film Fest attendees on Wednesday night with Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound, a period gay romance.

Gay Directors, Gay Films? By Emanuel Levy (Columbia University Press).

While Mescal received a standing ovation when walking in, O’Connor had to miss the premiere because he was finishing his part in Spielberg’s upcoming film and couldn’t make it.

Though O’Connor wasn’t present, Mescal carried the weight. One rowdy fan screamed, “We love you, Paul!” seconds before the film started, when the audience usually sits in reverent silence.

By the end, moviegoers were weeping and swatting at each other trying to get video of Mescal, who was also tearing up.

“This has been one of the most wonderful creative collaborations of my very, very short career, but this has been a testament to the genius of Paul Mescal,” said director Hermanus.

The film’s stark, gorgeous folk music performances — often delivered a cappella — had impact on the crowd; some members were humming melodies.

Also in attendance were stars Gracie Abrams (who is dating Mescal), Jenny Slate (who is married to screenwriter Ben Shattuck), Michelle Rodriguez, Cara Delevingne and John C. Reilly.

Based on Shattuck’s short story of the same name, “The History of Sound” follows the relationship between two men who travel to New England together in the summer of 1919 to record the folk songs of their rural countrymen.

Greeted with mixed reviews (unfairly, I think), The History of Sound is deliberately paced, and might lack the kind of strong narrative drive to allure young viewers. But it is lushly shot by cinematographer Alexander Dynan, which lends the film a melancholy tone in depicting a little known gay romance between characters–music scholars–seldom seen in queer cinema, past or present.

It is the kind of film that, despite dramatic weaknesses, leaves a strong impression after the end credits roll in depicting how passion for idiosyncratic music (and art in general) can help overcome a sense of loneliness felt by individuals yearning for meaningful bonding that goes beyond over sexual encounters.

Alongside Mescal and O’Connor, the film stars Chris Cooper, Molly Price, Raphael Sbarge, Hadley Robinson, Emma Canning, Briana Middleton and Gary Raymond.

About Oliver Hermanus

South African director Hermanus directed and penned the screenplay.

The History of Sound marks Hermanus’ sixth feature, after his recent, highly acclaimed 2022’s Living, also a tale of loneliness and yearning, starring Bill Nighy.

The last time Hermanus was in Cannes competition was in 2011 with his sophomore film Beauty, which followed a closeted man coming to terms with his sexuality. The film won the festival’s Queer Palm and was selected as South Africa’s Oscars entry for best foreign language film, but did not ultimately make the shortlist.

Mescal, the “Normal People” and “Gladiator II” star,who is set to play Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles biopic, was most recently at Cannes with the 2022 coming-of-age drama “Aftersun.” That film earned him an Oscar nomination for best actor.

The History of Sound marks the first Cannes visit for Emmy winner O’Connor, who also stars in another film in competition, Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind.

Cannes Film Fest 2025: History of Sound, The–Period Gay Romance, Starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor

Hermanus’ Gay Romance ‘The History of Sound’ Premieres at Cannes Fest (Competition)

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