The History of Sound is not the hot-hot-hot movie it’s being marketed as – it’s better

film review

The History of Sound

Directed by Oliver Hermanus

Written by Ben Shattuk

Starring Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor and Chris Cooper

Classification PG; 127 minutes

Opens in select theatres Sept. 19

Critic’s Pick

There is a kind of irresistible on-the-surface allure to the new drama The History of Sound . It stars two of today’s most buzzed about heartthrobs, Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor. It is being sold as a smouldering queer romance, which should easily tempt anyone obsessed with the two biggest “internet boyfriends” of our era, so to speak. And it’s a Cannes-certified period piece, giving the title a prestige-film sheen. And yet, director Oliver Hermanus’s film is not quite the hot-hot-hot property it’s being marketed as – which is all, mostly, for the better.

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