Archive · 23 Jan 2026
The History of Sound: A Romantic Musical Journey
The History of Sound is a movie about two music students, Lionel and David, who travel across Maine in 1917 to collect and archive folk music.
They fall in love while discovering beautiful songs that tell stories of love, loss, and life.
The movie is filled with gorgeous music and stunning visuals, but it struggles to balance the musical journey with the romantic story.
The actors, Josh O’Connor and Paul Mescal, do a great job playing the main characters.
The film is directed by Oliver Hermanus and is based on short stories by Ben Shattuck.
It's a tender love story set against the backdrop of American folk music traditions.
The History of Sound is a 2025 romantic musical film set in 1917 Maine.
Lionel and David, students at the New England Conservatory of Music, travel to archive folk music.
The film features gorgeous music, sound design, and a muted color palette.
Josh O’Connor and Paul Mescal star as the lead characters, with strong chemistry.
The movie struggles to balance the musical journey with the romantic storyline.
- Who
- Lionel and David, two students at the New England Conservatory of Music
- What
- A romantic musical journey to archive Maine's musical history
- When
- 1917, released in 2025
- Where
- Maine, USA
- Why
- To archive musical history and explore their relationship
- Release Year
- 2025
- Director
- Oliver Hermanus
- Adapted From
- Ben Shattuck's short stories
- Main Actors
- Josh O’Connor, Paul Mescal
- Runtime
- 129 minutes
- Genre
- Romance, Musical
- Setting
- Maine, 1917