The History of Sound: A Polite but Passionless Period Drama
A new period drama premiering at Cannes has been making waves with its depiction of a same-sex romance between two of Hollywood’s buzziest male actors, Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor. The film, titled The History of Sound, has been hailed as a daring project, given its subject matter and star power. However, according to a review by the BBC, the film falls short of expectations, lacking the passion and urgency that its premise demands.
The film, directed by Oliver Hermanus, tells the story of Lionel, a Kentucky farm boy with a remarkable singing voice, played by Mescal, and his romance with David, a composition student with a taste for folk music, played by O’Connor. The two meet and fall in love, but their relationship is put to the test when David is drafted to fight in World War One and Lionel has to return to his family farm. The film follows their lives slowly and steadily through the 1920s, but fails to find any real urgency or tension.
As the BBC notes, “Mescal and O’Connor are nuanced and charismatic, but the film doesn’t probe beneath the attractive surface of its star-crossed lovers.” The film’s pace is leisurely, and its multiple endings make it feel longer than its two-hour running time. The screenplay, adapted from Ben Shattuck’s own short story, fails to deliver a compelling narrative, instead relying on its picturesque settings and beautiful costumes to carry the film.
One of the most striking aspects of The History of Sound is its aesthetics. The film is one of those “too-beautiful” period dramas in which every house is spotlessly clean, even in the backwoods, and every costume is immaculately tailored and richly coloured. As the BBC observes, “Lionel’s most impressive gift seems to be his ability to find the ideal suit-and-tie combination for every occasion.” However, this attention to detail comes at the expense of emotional depth and complexity.
The film’s use of music is also noteworthy. The melancholy ballads of heartbreak and grief provide the piercing emotion that is lacking elsewhere in the film. The most romantic sequence has Lionel and David walking through the woods, harmonising exquisitely without any preparation. However, such moments are few and far between, and the film ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to explore the complexities of same-sex relationships in a more nuanced and meaningful way.
According to the BBC, “The History of Sound is none of [the things Lionel likes about folk music: impassioned, raw, and messy].” Instead, the film is polite and polished, but ultimately lacking in passion and urgency. As the review concludes, “It’s left to the melancholy ballads of heartbreak and grief to provide the piercing emotion that is lacking elsewhere.”
The History of Sound
Director: Oliver Hermanus
Cast: Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor
Run-time: 2hr 7m
In conclusion, while The History of Sound is a beautifully shot and well-acted film, it ultimately falls short of expectations. Its lack of passion and urgency, combined with its leisurely pace and multiple endings, make it feel like a missed opportunity to explore a complex and compelling subject matter. As the BBC notes, the film’s stars are “nuanced and charismatic,” but the film itself fails to deliver a compelling narrative.
The film’s exploration of same-sex relationships is also somewhat lacking. As the BBC observes, “Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain was released 20 years ago, but there haven’t been many period dramas about same-sex romances since.” The History of Sound, then, had the potential to be a groundbreaking film, but ultimately it plays it too safe, opting for a polite and polished narrative over a more nuanced and complex exploration of its subject matter.
The History of Sound is a film that will likely appeal to fans of period dramas, but it is ultimately a disappointment. Its beautiful settings and costumes, combined with its charismatic leads, make it a pleasant enough watch, but it lacks the emotional depth and complexity to truly resonate with audiences.
Source link
