The History of Sound (2025) dir. Oliver Hermanus
I went in with low expectations, having heard disparaging things about this film, but what I found was an understated albeit moving story of love and heartbreak. Think Brokeback Mountain but with Appalachian folk music and amateur ethnomusicologists instead of sheep and seasonal drovers.
If it lacked a tight plot and snappy pacing, and if the themes around music were a little tenuously developed (the title is a total question mark tbh), watch it at least for the skilled and poignant performances from Mescal and O'Connor, and an incredible period-accurate production design spanning almost the whole of the 20th century (credit to Production Designer Deborah Jensen and Costume Designer Miyako Bellizzi). It's very much a story of love that is only realised after it's too late and in that sense it's quite sad. Visually it's gorgeous, and the music adds to the beauty, even if the story is a little bleak. One day we'll get a queer happy ending, but you won't find it here - though you will find something touching and if you love a movie that'll make you cry, this is it. The epilogue scene actually had me break down - it was quite overwhelming.
Don't watch the trailer, it gives away the best scenes.
