The History of Sound (Blu-ray Review)
The History of Sound hit me in a strange, almost intangible way. It’s not the kind of film that overwhelms you with emotion in the moment—it’s quieter than that. Instead, it slowly seeps in, like a memory you’re trying to hold onto but can’t fully grasp. By the time it ended, I wasn’t devastated or exhilarated—I just felt… reflective. And that feeling stuck with me longer than I expected.
Film ★★★☆☆
A Love Story That Feels Like It’s Slipping Through Your Fingers
The film follows Lionel Worthing (Paul Mescal), a music student who forms a deep connection with David White (Josh O’Connor) during World War I. Their shared interest in music becomes the foundation of both a creative and emotional bond.
After the war, the two reconnect and travel together through rural New England, recording folk songs and preserving voices that might otherwise be lost. Along the way, their relationship evolves in subtle, sometimes unspoken ways, shaped as much by what they don’t say as what they do.
Tone & Atmosphere: Beautiful, But Extremely Reserved
What stood out to me right away was how restrained the film is. Oliver Hermanus directs with a very light touch—there’s no rush, no urgency, just a steady, deliberate pace that asks you to sit with the characters rather than be pulled along by plot.
Visually, I found it stunning. The landscapes, the natural lighting, the quiet interiors—it all feels carefully composed without being flashy. There’s a strong sense of stillness throughout, and I appreciated how that matched the film’s themes.
At the same time, I did feel a bit of distance from it. The film keeps its emotions very close to the chest, and while that works in creating a certain mood, it also made it harder for me to fully connect on a deeper level. I admired what it was doing more than I felt completely immersed in it.
Performances: Subtle Work That Requires You to Lean In
Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor both give very understated performances, which fits the tone of the film perfectly. Mescal, in particular, brings a quiet sensitivity to Lionel that I found compelling—there’s a lot going on beneath the surface, even when he’s not saying much.
O’Connor plays things a bit more guarded, which creates an interesting contrast between the two. Their chemistry feels intentional in how restrained it is—it’s not a loud or overtly passionate connection, but something more internal and complicated.
That said, I did find myself wanting just a little more emotional intensity between them. The subtlety is effective, but it sometimes feels like the film is holding back just a bit too much.
Themes: Holding Onto What Fades
What really resonated with me is the film’s focus on preservation—of music, of moments, of relationships. The act of recording folk songs becomes more than just a historical detail; it feels like a metaphor for trying to capture something that’s already disappearing.
The film doesn’t follow a traditional structure, and I think that’s intentional. It feels more like a series of moments strung together than a tightly plotted story. For me, that worked in some ways—I liked the sense of drifting through time—but it also meant the emotional payoff wasn’t as strong as I hoped.
My Take: A Film I Respect More Than I Love
I walked away from The History of Sound feeling conflicted—in a good way, mostly. I genuinely respect how carefully made it is. The direction, performances, and overall atmosphere are all thoughtfully executed.
But emotionally, it kept me at arm’s length. I kept waiting for it to fully break through and really hit me, and it never quite got there. Instead, it lingered in a quieter, more reflective space.
And to be fair, that might be exactly what it’s going for.
Video ★★★★☆
NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the 4K or Blu-ray discs.
Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Region: A
HDR: N/A
Layers: BD-50
Clarity and Detail:
This is a film that relies heavily on subtle visual storytelling, and the Blu-ray presentation does a strong job preserving that intent. Fine details—like fabric textures, weathered wood, and the natural environments—come through cleanly without looking artificially sharpened. Close-ups reveal nuanced facial detail, though the softer cinematographic style means it never aims for razor-sharp precision.
Depth:
Depth is impressive, particularly in outdoor sequences. Landscapes feel layered and dimensional, with a strong sense of space between foreground and background elements. Interior shots are more intimate and flatter by design, but that seems intentional rather than a limitation of the transfer.
Black Levels:
Black levels are stable and consistent, though not especially deep. Shadow detail is maintained well, especially in dimly lit interiors, but the image leans more toward a natural, slightly lifted look rather than inky blacks.
Color:
The color palette is restrained and period-appropriate. Earth tones dominate—greens, browns, and muted blues—and they’re reproduced faithfully. Nothing pops in a modern, saturated way, but that works in the film’s favor, enhancing its grounded, historical atmosphere.
Flesh Tones:
Flesh tones appear natural and consistent throughout. There’s no noticeable push toward overly warm or cool hues, which helps maintain realism across varying lighting conditions.
Noise and Artifacts:
The transfer is clean overall. There’s a light, natural grain structure present that suits the film’s aesthetic, and compression artifacts are minimal to nonexistent. No major issues with banding or digital noise stood out during playback.
Audio ★★★★★
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD MA 5.1, English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH, French, French Forced
Dynamics:
The film isn’t particularly aggressive from a dynamic standpoint, but it uses its range effectively. Quiet moments dominate, and the track handles them with precision. When the audio does swell—primarily through music—it feels controlled and appropriate rather than overpowering.
Height: N/A
Low Frequency Extension:
Low-end presence is subtle. There’s minimal use of deep bass, which fits the film’s tone. Any low-frequency activity is gentle and supportive, never drawing attention to itself.
Surround Sound Presentation:
The 5.1 track is immersive in a restrained, atmospheric way. Surround channels are used primarily for environmental ambience—wind, distant voices, natural soundscapes—which helps create a sense of place without feeling overly active. It’s not a showy mix, but it’s thoughtfully designed.
Dialogue:
Dialogue is clear and well-prioritized throughout. Even during quieter or more softly delivered lines, voices remain intelligible without needing to adjust volume. The mix balances dialogue naturally with ambient sounds and music.
Extras ☆☆☆☆☆
Besides a handsome slipcover and Criterion Collection like case, there are no extras for The History of Sound.
Summary ★★★☆☆
The History of Sound is a beautifully crafted and introspective film that prioritizes mood and subtlety over emotional intensity. It didn’t completely pull me in, but it stayed with me—and sometimes, that’s just as meaningful.
The History of Sound is Now Available to Purchase!
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Adam Toroni-Byrne
Adam is a lifelong physical media collector. His love of collecting began with a My First Sony radio and his parent's cassette collection. Since the age of 3, Adam has collected music on vinyl, tape and CD and films on VHS, DVD, Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray. Adam likes to think of himself as the queer voice of Whysoblu. Outside of his work as a writer at Whysoblu, Adam teaches preschool and is a competing amateur boxer!
