Blu-ray Review: THE HISTORY OF SOUND

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Apr 12 Posted by Kyle Nolan in DVD/Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments

Lionel Worthing (Paul Mescal) grew up in a small farmhouse in Kentucky, but his perfect pitch and singing voice won him a chance to get away, with a scholarship to the New England Conservatory. One day in 1917, Lionel meets fellow student David White (Josh O’Connor) at a pub and the two quickly bond over their love of folk music. They continue to enjoy being in one another’s company, and begin a secret, passionate relationship. However, this is soon interrupted when the school is closed as the United States enters World War I. David is drafted and heads off to war, while Lionel returns home to assist his ailing parents with the family farm.

A couple years later, David writes to Lionel, asking him to join him on a research trip funded by the college in Maine where he is now working. And so the two reunite and rekindle their relationship as they travel across the state, documenting and recording folk songs on wax cylinders. David plans to write a book about the music to preserve the history and culture surrounding them. The pair sleep in a tent under the stars as they meet folks from all walks of life and record their music. It is the happiest they’ve ever been, and neither of them want this trip to come to an end. And when they do part, say their goodbyes, and go their separate ways, they don’t know what the future holds and if they will one day see each other again.

The History of Sound is a period romantic drama, directed by Oliver Hermanus (Shirley Adams, Beauty, The Endless River, Moffie, Living) and written by Ben Shattuck, based on his short stories “The History of Sound” and “Origin Stories”. It follows the brief but lasting relationship between these two men, while also exploring the themes and roles of folk music. While I think elements of the film work really well—such as the chemistry between Lionel and David and their romance—the film ultimately feels like two different movies smashed together (not sure if this is due to it combining two different short stories for source material.

The first half of the film, which I thought flowed a lot more coherently, follows the love story of these two men, from their meet-cute at a piano in a pub, to them falling for one another, being separated by a war, and finding one another again on this adventure collecting songs and music. However, this whole concept of documenting the titular history of sound is mostly forgotten in the latter half of the film. The second half of the movie constantly jumps forward in time, exploring Lionel’s attempts to contact David after their romantic journey, and trying to move on with his life and find love elsewhere, but always still thinking of that first romance and hoping to once day reconnect with David once again. Almost any new relationship Lionel attempts is pretty much doomed, because nothing can live up to that love affair he had with David. This second half drags on a bit, but ultimately builds to an emotional conclusion that ties back into the first half of the movie.

I don’t think this is a film that I will revisit much, but it is quite beautifully shot, has some really strong dramatic and emotional moments, excellent performances by the leads, and some nice folk music. Fans of Mescal and O’Connor should enjoy the film as the actors make the relationship between their characters feel natural and believable. It’s a very touching love story that addresses some of the biases and issues these men face when exploring this type of relationship in that era.

MUBI/Alliance Home Entertainment have released The History of Sound on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. We were sent a copy of the Blu-ray release for review. The video presentation looks stunning, with a clean, crisp and practically immaculate-looking picture. It was hard to believe that this wasn’t actually a 4K disc. The level of detail is excellent, and the presentation really captures the beautiful colors and landscapes of the era the film is set in, from the Boston school, to the Kentucky farmlands, to the rural outdoors, as well as several international locales in the second half of the film. The audio presentation is also impressive, providing a thoroughly-immersive experience, capturing the ambiance of the wilderness, being surrounded by blustering winds, the sounds of birds in the center of Rome, and more. The songs also sound great, whether it’s just Lionel and David singing at the piano in the pub, folk songs being performed by the various people they meet on their travels, or the European choirs conducted by Lionel.

The Blu-ray disc comes packed in a slightly thicker clear HD keepcase, which is covered in a sturdy carboard slipcover. Unfortunately the disc is barebones, with no bonus material, and no digital copy is included.

What’s Included:

Film: (2:08:24)

1080p / Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
Subtitles: English (Forced), English (Full), English SDH, French (Forced), French (Full)

Extras:

There is no bonus material included.

Final Thoughts:

My Rating

Film:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Worth a Look

The History of Sound feels a bit too long, and like two separate films have been combined to make one. I preferred the first half of the film, which features strong performances by Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, who really make you care about these characters and root for their relationship. The film heads in a different direction in the second half, and much like Lionel’s love for David, nothing seems to live up to that first half. MUBI’s Blu-ray release looks and sounds fantastic, and the presentation will surely please fans of the film. However, the release is barebones, and does not include any bonus material or digital copy. That said, it’s worth a look for fans of the cast or fans of period romantic dramas.