Audiences may be forgiven for having developed a fatigue regarding Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor recently, with the two seemingly appearing in everything between them, and yet their first starring performances together in The History of Sound highlights exactly why these actors need to be preserved if they are to deservedly become known as two of the greats. Mescal plays Lionel Worthing, a man that is born with the gift of perfect pitch and a natural musical talent who goes to the New England Conservatory of Music, where he meets David White (O’Connor).
The two quickly form a fleeting romantic bond and, when the latter returns from service in World War One, they begin a journey to record and document traditional folk music. Many films that feature a gay romance storyline make a point of it, as though feeling the need to justify these relationships, but this is not that kind of film. Here, the music appears to be the primary driving force for what happens on screen, with their feelings for each other only made relevant in the moments they are apart. This choice somehow makes a stronger impact, as their connection appears even more special than that in Guadagnino’s Queer, for example. This is a film about homosexuality, but it doesn’t feel like it is.
It may seem a moot point to sing the praises of the sound and score in a film titled The History of Sound, but without it, the film loses everything. Oliver Coates is credited as both the writer of the score, and an executive producer of the film. This is very rare in feature filmmaking, and it just goes to show how much importance is placed on the way the film sounds. His score expertly weaves in the folk and choral melodies that are heard throughout the film, perfectly creating the mood required for each particular scene. The film is very much a tale of two halves, the first of which is the pair’s musical pilgrimage.
As Lionel and David embark on their journey to gather an array of folk songs, performed by the people who made them, we are treated to some of the most beautiful vocals ever filmed. At one point, when they record Thankful Mary Swain singing Here in the Vineyard, a moment that highlights the diverse heritage of folk music, you will find yourself questioning just how one brief passage of music can move you so much. In another scene, Mescal explains to a group of young children just how sound works by demonstrating the vibrations that happen when you hum – the passion the creatives have for sound and music is evident in every single second of the film.
Both protagonists quietly battle their struggles throughout the film, both sharing a dissatisfaction with their lives. David appears to have unaddressed trauma from his time at war, while Lionel spends the rest of his life unsuccessfully chasing the happiness that he felt during the time spent on their mission together. The History of Sound is a film that will take hold of its audience from the minute it begins, and will not let go until well after those credits roll. It has inexplicably evaded all award discussions, but it cannot be denied that without the real people who did the work of Lionel and David, the world never would have had such influential artists, like Bob Dylan. A superb late performance from Chris Cooper caps off the film, as he delivers the perfect description of the folk genre: “Folk music is the most warm-blooded of music.”
