What’s better than one internet boyfriend in a movie? Two internet boyfriends in a movie! That’s the case in The History of Sound, a romantic drama that stars Paul Mescal (Aftersun, All of Us Strangers) and Josh O’Connor (Challengers).
Directed by Oliver Hermanus (Living, Moffie) and based on the short story by Ben Shattuck (who also wrote the screenplay), The History of Sound premiered at 2025’s Cannes Film Festival, where it received favorable reviews.
The History of Sound transports viewers to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in 1917. There, Kentucky-born singer Lionel Worthing (Mescal) crosses paths with music composing student David White (O’Connor). From their first encounter it’s clear they have chemistry — both musical and romantic. The two embark on a relationship, but it’s cut short when David is drafted into World War I.
Years later, in 1920, the pair reconnects and travels around Maine. They collect and preserve folk songs for future generations. Years after that, Lionel lives a successful life in Europe, complete with new romantic partners. Yet memories of his time with David constantly draw him back to that Maine trip, and to his great love for him.
The first trailer for The History of Sound teases these different stages of Lionel’s life, along with both Mescal and O’Connor singing their share of American folk songs. Separately, each actor has proven themselves as exciting forces to watch, with Mescal earning an Academy Award nomination for his work in Aftersun, and O’Connor taking home an Emmy for his work on The Crown. Watching the pair come together for The History of Sound is sure to be a treat.
The History of Sound hits theater Sept. 12.
