Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor's upcoming gay romance film The History of Sound has been previewed with new first-look photos. Based on the Pushcart Prize-winning short story by Ben Shattuck, The History of Sound will focus on Lionel (Mescal) and David (O'Connor), two young men who set out to record the lives, voices and music of their American compatriots who travelled to Europe to fight in World War I. Ahead of The History of Sound's Cannes Film Festival premiere later this month, a series of first-look photos have been released.
What to Read Next In one still, Mescal and O'Connor are seen sharing a laugh at a piano. Vanity Fair reports that this is where their characters first meet, as Lionel hears David singing a folk song he recognises from his youth and is instantly captivated by him. Mubi Related: Best film and TV tours for 2025 Speaking to the publication, Mescal teased that the film has a "real sense of companionship" between the two lead characters, and that the drama stems from the "joy and loss that comes with the presence and absence of that."
"It's not just about sex and the intensity of falling in love. It's deeper than that," he added. Mubi "I didn't want the sex of it to be the transgression, or the big idea, like, 'Oh, it's 1917, and these two men are taking the risk of being sexual'," said director Oliver Hermanus.
"Ben wrote it in a way where there was no hesitation, no moment of fear. Mubi "For me, the sex scene is when Lionel is walking around David's apartment the morning after [their first encounter], and he's smelling everything and sitting everywhere," the Mary & George director added. "He's absorbing the energy of this person."
Mubi Related: Best streaming services In addition to The History of Sound, Mescal has been confirmed to star as Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes's four-part Beatles biopic. He'll also soon appear on screen alongside Jessie Buckley in an adaptation of the book Hamnet, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao. Meanwhile, O'Connor has been cast in Kelly Reichardt's upcoming feature The Mastermind, as well as Netflix's third Knives Out instalment.
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