Review: The History of Sound

Official synopsis: Two young men, Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O'Connor)  set out to record the lives, voices and music of their American countrymen after WWI.

Sound isn't just something you hear. You can see it, feel it, associate it with colors and memories. Lionel and David are a perfect match in how much they appreciate songs.  From singing in a bar, to hiking through Maine in search of something new, it's easy to fall in love with these two.

I wasn't aware this film was based on a short story until after the credits started rolling, but it that makes sense. I was struck at just how rich this story was. Even though it hits some familiar notes, it felt very fresh. There were some scenes that felt clunky, likely because writer Ben Shattuck had to expand his original work, but they are few and far between.

Mescal and O'Conner have been proving themselves as some of the most interesting actors working today for a while now, and they deliver wonderful performances here again, especially Mescal who we follow the most. He's able to say so much with his expressions. It's a devastating performance.

It's impossible not to compare this to Brokeback Mountain at times. I feel bad for doing so because that film is perfect but I thought of it often while watching this. 

Still, while this is a slower, quieter film than the other wide releases out there at the moment, it's definitely worth seeing in theaters.

Grade: B