Initial Photos of Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor in Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound

      Another day brings a new look at a period drama starring Josh O’Connor and supported by MUBI, which is set to debut in competition at this month’s Cannes Film Festival. Following the initial images of Kelly Reichardt’s highly anticipated crime drama The Mastermind, we now have our first glimpse of Living director Oliver Hermanus’ gay drama The History of Sound, featuring O’Connor alongside Paul Mescal.

      The film, adapted from Ben Shattuck's own short story, tells the story of two American World War I soldiers who form a bond in 1916 and reunite a few years later to embark on a journey to capture and collect the sounds, voices, and music of their fellow countrymen in rural New England.

      Here’s the complete synopsis: “In 1917, Lionel—a gifted young music student—meets David at the Boston Conservatory, where they connect over their shared love for folk music. Years later, Lionel receives a letter from David, prompting an impromptu trip through the forests of Maine to gather traditional songs. This unexpected reunion, along with the ensuing romance and the music they gather and cherish, will profoundly influence the course of Lionel’s life, often beyond his own understanding.”

      “I didn’t want the focus of the story to be on the sexuality as a transgression or a central idea, like, ‘Oh, it’s 1917, and these two men are risking a sexual relationship,’” Hermanus expresses to Vanity Fair. “Ben wrote it in a way that there’s no hesitation or sense of fear. For me, the sex scene occurs when Lionel is walking around David’s apartment the morning after [their first encounter], taking in the scents and sitting everywhere. He’s absorbing the essence of this person.”

      Check out the first images below.