The official trailer for Paul Mescal’s new historical romantic drama is here. From filmmaker Oliver Hermanus (Shirley Adams), The History of Sound, based on Ben Shattuck’s short story of the same name, follows the relationship between David (Josh O’Connor) and Lionel (Mescal) against the backdrop of World War I and the two years after it ended.
Premiered at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in May, the movie adaptation received a nomination for the Palme d’Or (Golden Palm), the highest prize for the director of Best Feature Film, and is expected to arrive in theaters on September 12 in the US and September 19 in Canada.
Ahead of its release, MUBI has unveiled the official trailer for The History of Sound, teasing the movie’s haunting soundtrack and the moving and intricate romance between David and Lionel. As seen in the trailer, the two young men’s lives began to entangle upon their initial meeting at the Boston Conservatory in 1917.
Rooted in their mutual appreciation for folk music, their bond grew as they embarked on a mission to collect folklore across the country, recording the lives and voices of American countrymen. Check out the trailer below:
What The Trailer Means For The History Of Sound
The History Of Sound Is About A Fleeing Relationship That Leaves A Deep Mark
The History of Sound is set at the intersection of love, identity, and music, where the three themes are intricately connected to one another. A strong contender at the Cannes Film Festival, Hermanus’ pic has received generally positive reviews from fans and critics alike. The movie currently has a 65% critical approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes.
ScreenRant‘s review of The History of Sound spotlighted the “thoughtful and quietly devastating” romance between Mescal and O’Connor’s characters while giving it a 7/10 rating. As teased in the official trailer, the haunting folk songs also serve to paint the tone and the emotions of the relationship. Check out what Greame Guttmann said in his review:
Like the haunting songs that soundtrack the film, David is the ghost hovering over this film. O’Connor does brief but effective work here.
Similar to queer romance classics like Call Me By Your Name and Brokeback Mountain, The History of Sound explores how a brief relationship could have a life-long impact on a person. While the film excels at storytelling, Guttmann also warns that the movie leans into melancholia rather than the steamy aspect of the relationship.
Our Take On The History Of Sound’s Trailer
It’s Poignant And Beautiful
As a music enthusiast who’s obsessed with folk music, The History of Sound‘s trailer has successfully sparked my interest. The story of folklorists and musicologists like John A. Lomax and his son Alan Lomax, who traveled across the country to collect the authentic sounds of American folk music, is already intriguing.
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On top of that, Hermanus elevated the subject by weaving identity and queer romance into the narrative, which deepens the conversation on so many levels. Even just from watching the trailer, it’s not hard to see that The History of Sound is a project unlike others, and it’s easily one of Paul Mescal’s best works so far. Honestly, I can’t wait to watch this movie in theaters in September.
Source: MUBI
The History of Sound
7/10
- Release Date
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January 14, 2026
- Runtime
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127 Minutes
- Director
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Oliver Hermanus
- Writers
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Ben Shattuck, Oliver Hermanus
- Producers
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Tim Haslam, Andrea Roa, Thérèsa Ryan, Sara Murphy, Andrew Kortschak, Lisa Ciuffetti
