‘The History of Sound’

By Angela Tricarico

After a September limited release in theaters, The History of Sound is now streaming on Mubi (which offers a free trial to new users). Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor star in the period drama as Lionel and David, two music students who connect over a love of folk music with World War I looming in the background. As they bond over the music, a romantic relationship unfolds between the two men, who have great, believable chemistry. The History of Sound also makes a compelling case for why it’s so important to preserve media physically, with a focus on the power that words and stories hold long after they’re originally spoken out loud or put to paper, as the middle section of the film follows Lionel and David traveling the Northeast to record folk songs on wax cylinders for preservation.

Photo: Gwen Capistran /© Focus Features /Courtesy Everett Collection