Blu-ray Review: The History of Sound - Film Critique
The History of Sound, directed by Oliver Hermanus, is a visually stunning film that explores a heartfelt love story intertwined with the art of traditional music collection. Released by Universal Pictures, it features a High-Definition Blu-ray transfer that enhances its delicate cinematography.
United States: 2025 Original Title: The History of Sound Director: Oliver Hermanus Screenplay: Oliver Hermanus, Ben Shattuck Cast: Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor, Chris Cooper Distributor: Universal Pictures Runtime: 2h09 Genre: Drama, Historical, Romance Theatrical Release Date: February 25, 2026 DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: July 8, 2026
In 1917, at the Boston Conservatory, Lionel and David forge a friendship rooted in their shared love for folk music. Years later, Lionel receives a letter from David, prompting them to embark on an impromptu mission to rescue the traditional songs of Maine. This unexpected reunion and the love story that unfolds will profoundly affect Lionel's life in ways he cannot yet foresee.
The Film
Rating: 4.5/5
"A film with polished visuals that narrates a sincere love story while paying tribute to traditional music collectors is bound to polarize audiences. Surprisingly, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The History of Sound has proven to be particularly divisive. From its initial screenings at Cannes, the film sparked debate among critics and viewers alike. Some argue that a visually refined film is inherently academic, which they view as a negative aspect of cinema, while others appreciate the aesthetic quality. Similarly, some consider a love story—whether heterosexual or between two men, as in The History of Sound—to risk being perceived as sentimental or melodramatic. Conversely, others find the film's deliberate melancholy to evoke a powerful emotional response.
What stands at the heart of the film, alongside the love story, is the music. Here, the divide is less pronounced; it separates those passionate about music from those who do not delve deeply into it. For the former, The History of Sound is an engrossing experience. The film uniquely explores the phenomenon of music collecting, a practice wherein musicologists travel through regions or entire countries to gather traditional repertoires—both instrumental and vocal—on the verge of disappearing with the elderly rural population. The United States has seen notable figures in this field, such as John Lomax and his son Alan Lomax.
In The History of Sound, we follow Lionel, hailing from rural Kentucky, and David, a composition student, who meet at a piano in the Boston Conservatory. They fall in love and, in 1920, embark on a collection campaign in Maine, utilizing wax cylinders. Enthusiasts of traditional American music, often with distant British roots, will find joy in the film, which also features episodes set in Rome and London, showcasing music from Pergolesi and Gabriel Fauré. With impeccable direction, The History of Sound shines through the performances of its lead actors: Paul Mescal, recently seen in Hamnet by Chloé Zhao, and Josh O’Connor, known for The Mastermind by Kelly Reichardt.
Excerpt from the review by our critic Jean-Jacques Corrio. Read the full critique by following this link!
The Blu-ray
Rating: 4/5
Distributed by Universal Pictures, The History of Sound features a High-Definition transfer that does justice to the delicate cinematography of Alexander Dynan. The clarity is precise without compromising the intentional softness of the image. The textures of costumes and period settings benefit from a convincing level of detail, while the subtly desaturated autumn palette retains a rich quality. The contrasts are strong, with deep blacks, and compression is virtually unnoticed in most situations. Some softer shots reflect artistic choices rather than flaws in the master. Overall, Universal presents an elegant and cinematic display, perfectly suited to the film's contemplative atmosphere.
On the audio front, both the French and original versions, mixed in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, offer a well-balanced performance. The film emphasizes intimacy, silences, and natural ambiance rather than overwhelming sound. Dialogues remain clear, the music resonates beautifully, and ambient effects—such as wind, forests, traditional songs, or the reverberations of open spaces—subtly envelop the viewer without excess. The original version holds a slight edge in vocal nuances, but the French dub stands out due to its careful voice work and clean mixing. In both cases, the multichannel mixing displays finesse and enhances the narrative's emotional depth. No additional features are included in this edition, which focuses solely on the essentials, executed with technical proficiency that is hard to fault.
