The History of Sound (2025)

Lattanzio finds the romance affecting and haunting, though its second half loses some emotional assurance. He praises Mescal’s understated performance and the film’s evocative music and patient atmosphere.

Venning finds the film profoundly affecting despite its muted pace and old-fashioned approach. She singles out the performances, especially Chris Cooper’s moving turn, and the songs’ power to preserve stories.

Rooney finds the film restrained and sometimes meandering, but ultimately a moving, melancholic romance. He especially praises Mescal and O’Connor’s performances and the folk music, which give the story its emotional force.

Marshall describes the film as an intense, restrained period drama. The headline singles out the clandestine romance between its two leads.

The review presents the film as a tender, decade-spanning love story likely to deepen its stars’ fanbases. It praises Oliver Hermanus’s telling as exquisite.

Strong finds the film a unique, moving romance, though its restraint and sagging pace may frustrate some viewers. She particularly praises Josh O’Connor’s performance and the soulful folk soundtrack.

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Shaffer finds the film most affecting when it evokes music’s ability to make the present feel suspended. He praises the soulful intimacy of Lionel and David recording folk music together, while noting that the second half loses vitality without David.

The review presents the film as a slow, wistful romance rather than an unabashed triumph. It singles out the leads’ torch song to lost love as the film’s defining quality.

The critic finds the film monotonous and its story trite, despite the appealing leads. She praises Mescal and O’Connor’s performances and says the songs bring the film to life when the score gives way to voices.

Chang finds the film beautiful but emotionally muted, with its central romance lacking sensual discovery and the filmmaking eventually slipping into inertia. He praises the folk-song recording scenes for their musical power and intimate encounters.

The critic finds the film sensitive and handsomely made but excessively decorous, lacking emotional intensity. Hadley Robinson’s nuanced, controlled performance is singled out as the film’s most striking element.

Abele finds the romance overly cautious and emotionally muted, despite an eventually moving final act. He praises Paul Mescal’s affecting portrayal of sorrow-wracked loneliness.

Gorber finds the film disappointing, calling its queer romance repetitive and its music emotionally inert. He praises the premise of collecting songs in isolated backwoods settings, but says the story handles it too obviously and by rote.

Willmore finds the film too restrained to make its romance emotionally compelling. She praises the opening scenes and the unexpected closing sequence as the moments the film fully inhabits.

Bradshaw finds the film tasteful and laborious, unable to bring its love story to life. He faults the folk songs and romance for feeling preserved under glass rather than emotionally immediate.

Gleiberman finds the romance listless and spiritually inexpressive, and says it fails to make its tragedy emotionally convincing. He praises Josh O’Connor’s vivid performance, while criticizing Paul Mescal’s stillness and the film’s overly pictorial style.

Hammond calls it a quietly masterful, haunting love story that stays with the viewer. He especially praises the performances by Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor and the film’s beautifully arranged folk music.

The critic calls the film essential viewing and finds its story of thwarted love deeply moving. They single out the performances, exquisite roots music, and evocative cinematography for praise.

Lacson finds the film moving and heartbreaking, though its middle section loses momentum. She especially praises the folk songs and ballads as the story’s emotional anchor.

The headline suggests the film is affecting, though the review text was inaccessible. It singles out Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor’s performances as heartbreaking.

The review finds the film too muted in its direction and pacing, though its verdict improves with an effective epilogue. It singles out Chris Cooper’s appearance for adding passion and crucial context to the story.

The critic finds the film exquisitely crafted but emotionally muted, leaving it more admired than loved. They praise its lush cinematography and sound, while faulting its restraint for keeping the central romance from igniting.

The critic finds the romance muted and unsatisfying. They fault the film’s uniform visual style for failing to convey the protagonist’s sensory experience.

The critic finds the film safe and mediocre, with its passion concentrated in the first half. The folk music is lively, but the romance never properly works.