The History of Sound

The History of Sound

Year: 2025

Runtime: 127 mins

Language: English

Director: Oliver Hermanus

Echo Score: 63
DramaMusicRomance

Lionel and David, two music students at the Boston Conservatory in 1917, discover a deep connection through their passion for folk music. Years later, they reunite and set off on a journey to Maine, exploring remote areas to record and preserve traditional songs. Their shared adventure reveals the rich musical heritage of the region and strengthens their bond as they navigate the challenges of their quest.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The History of Sound (2025)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The History of Sound (2025). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1917–1980

The story begins in 1917 amid World War I, follows the postwar era through the 1920s, and chronicles Lionel's shift from student to family man and conductor. It culminates in 1980 as an ethnomusicologist revisits a century of memories via a box of wax cylinders.

Location

Boston, Kentucky, Maine, Italy, Oxford

Locations stretch from the Boston conservatory halls to rural Kentucky farms and Maine coastlines, then traverse Europe to Italy and Oxford as the memory of a lifelong romance unfolds. The landscapes frame a decades-spanning tale of music, work, and family duty, with country manors, campuses, and seaside towns shaping the emotional map.

🎼 Conservatory 🗺️ Cross-country journey 🕰️ Historical settings

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:04

Main Characters – The History of Sound (2025)

Meet the key characters of The History of Sound (2025), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lionel Worthing (Paul Mescal)

A gifted music student whose quiet passion for folk tunes drives his choices across decades. He wrestles with love, duty, and a restless longing for Europe, keeping the memory of David close as life reshapes him.

🎭 Romantic 🎼 Musician 🧭 Seeker

David White (Josh O'Connor)

Lionel's partner in music and life, a warm, idealistic figure whose experiences in World War I drive his choices. His death and the lost chance to finish their joint project haunt Lionel as years pass.

💖 Lover 🎶 Folklorist 🗺️ Adventurer

Clarissa Roux (Emma Canning)

A socialite who draws Lionel into a country manor life, echoing the past he shared with David. Her presence tests Lionel's resolve and highlights the pull between obligation and longing.

🎭 Complex 🏛️ Socialite 💌 Intriguing

Belle (Hadley Robinson)

David's widow who becomes a bridge to Lionel's memory, revealing the truth of their story and returning the letters and cylinders that finally connect past with present.

🫂 Survivor 🗝️ Keeper 🧡 Stoic

Lionel's Mother (Molly Price)

A caring mother whose grief and resilience anchor Lionel's return to Kentucky and his efforts to comfort family in the wake of loss.

👩‍👦 Family 🕊️ Strength 💐 Maternal

Lionel Sr. (Raphael Sbarge)

A paternal figure whose passing early on shapes Lionel's sense of duty and the quiet ache he carries through his life.

👨‍👦 Family 🏛️ Authority 🕯️ Legacy

Grandfather (Tom Nelis)

A familial anchor who embodies the generations of memory Lionel seeks to honor through his work and his love.

👴 Heritage 🕰️ Memory 🪶 Wisdom

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:04

Major Themes – The History of Sound (2025)

Explore the central themes of The History of Sound (2025), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎶 Music as Memory

Folk tunes bind lovers and strangers, turning songs into archives that outlive individuals. The melodies travel with the characters across miles and decades, preserving moments otherwise lost to time. Music becomes a living thread linking youth, war, love, and grief.

💞 Love Across Time

Two lives cross in youth and are later separated by distance, duty, and death, yet their bond lingers in letters, recordings, and shared songs. The film examines how affection survives through upheaval, demanding memory and reinvention. The relationship shifts from romance to a chosen memory that guides the present.

🗃️ Archive of Voices

The journey across states and countries doubles as an ethnographic mission to record folk voices on wax cylinders. The endeavor reveals who gets included in history and whose stories are lost, highlighting the fragility of memory archives. The final revelation ties the archive to the personal history of Lionel and David.

🕰️ Time and Loss

Distance and time deepen a sense of absence, culminating in the revelation of David's death and the unspoken acts that followed. Lionel's lifelong pursuit becomes a quest to reconcile with a past that's gone but not forgotten. The film uses time as a character, shaping memory as something you actively carry forward.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:04

Unlock the Full Story of The History of Sound

Don't stop at just watching — explore The History of Sound in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The History of Sound is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The History of Sound Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The History of Sound, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The History of Sound Summary

The History of Sound Timeline

Track the full timeline of The History of Sound with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The History of Sound Timeline

The History of Sound Spoiler-Free Summary

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The History of Sound Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The History of Sound

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The History of Sound: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The History of Sound