Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor Make Cannes Sob With Powerful Gay Romance ‘The History of Sound’, Which Earns 6-Minute Standing Ovation

Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor brought the heat to Cannes Film Festival on TK night with Oliver Hermanus’ “The History of Sound,” which earned a TK-minute standing ovation.

TK details

While Mescal received a standing ovation when walking in, O’Connor had to miss the premiere because he was wrapping his part in the upcoming Steven Spielberg and couldn’t make it.

Though O’,Connor wasn’t present, Mescal carried the weight. One rowdy fan screamed “We love you, Paul!” seconds before the film started, when the audience usually sits in reverent silence. By the end, moviegoers were weeping and swatting at each other trying to get video of Mescal, who was also tearing up.

Based on Ben Shattuck’s short story of the same name, “The History of Sound” follows the relationship between two men who travel to New England together in the summer of 1919 to record the folk songs of their rural countrymen. Alongside Mescal and O’Connor, the film stars Chris Cooper, Molly Price, Raphael Sbarge, Hadley Robinson, Emma Canning, Briana Middleton and Gary Raymond. South African director Hermanus, who is known for “Beauty” and “Living,” directed and penned the screenplay.

“The History of Sound” marks Hermanus’ sixth feature, with his most recent being 2022’s “Living” starring Bill Nighy. The last time Hermanus was in Cannes competition was in 2011 with his sophomore film “Beauty,” which followed a closeted man coming to terms with his sexuality. The film won the festival’s Queer Palm and was selected as South Africa’s Oscars entry for best foreign language film, but did not ultimately make the shortlist.

Mescal, the “Normal People” and “Gladiator II” star who is set to play Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles biopic, was most recently at Cannes with the 2022 coming-of-age drama “Aftersun.” That film earned him an Oscar nomination for best actor. “The History of Sound” marks the first Cannes visit for Emmy winner O’Connor, who also stars in another film in competition with Kelly Reichardt’s “The Mastermind.”

Cannes Film Festival runs May 13 to 24.