Directed by Oliver Hermanus (Living, Moffie), The History of Sound is an upcoming period drama that brings together Academy Award nominee Paul Mescal (Aftersun, Gladiator II) and BAFTA winner Josh O’Connor (Challengers, La Chimera). The film is expected to premiere in 2025, with a world premiere announcement coming soon.
Based on Ben Shattuck’s Pushcart Prize-winning short story, The History of Sound follows two music students from the Boston Conservatory who bond over folk music in 1917. Years later, they reunite and set off on a journey through rural Maine to record and preserve traditional songs. As they travel, their brief yet transformative relationship and the melodies they collect shape their lives in unexpected ways.
Director Oliver Hermanus has been steadily making his mark in the industry, with 'Living' earning two Academy Award nominations in 2023. The History of Sound marks his first U.S. set film, continuing his exploration of human connection and history through visually striking and emotionally resonant storytelling.
Oliver Hermanus said: "This film is a true passion project. It has been a part of my life, and the lives of Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor, for the past five years, and I could not be more thrilled to have found partners in MUBI in North America and Focus and UPI internationally. They champion the cinema I love, and having our film as part of their family of films has made this journey all the more fruitful."
Filming took place across New Jersey, Italy, and the United Kingdom, with post-production recently completed. The film is produced by End Cue’s Andrew Kortschak and Lisa Ciuffetti, alongside Fat City’s Sara Murphy and Closer Media’s Zhang Xin. Additional production and financing support come from Film4, Closer Media, Tango, and Storm City Films.
Alongside The History of Sound, MUBI has an impressive lineup that includes Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, and Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla.
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