The History of Sound, the new queer film by acclaimed South African director Oliver Hermanus, has finally secured a release date in South Africa.
The gay romantic period drama, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, is based on the award-winning short story of the same name by Ben Shattuck.
Set in the early 20th century, The History of Sound follows the relationship between two men who meet in 1917. In the summer of 1919, they set out on a journey through rural New England to record the folk songs of their countrymen.
Release Dates and Cast
The film will open in American cinemas on 12 September 2025. South African audiences, however, will have to wait more than five months longer, with the local release currently scheduled for 27 February 2026.
The cast includes Josh O’Connor—best known for his Emmy-winning role as Prince Charles in Netflix’s The Crown—and Paul Mescal, who starred in Gladiator II.
Both actors have previously appeared in queer cinema. O’Connor portrayed a Yorkshire sheep farmer in the acclaimed gay love story God’s Own Country (2017), while Mescal played a lead role in the romantic fantasy All of Us Strangers (2023).
Hermanus on Bringing the Story to Screen
Hermanus, who said he was inspired by films like The English Patient, told Deadline that one of The History of Sound’s themes was “the road not taken”.
He explained, “I think it’s deeply relatable. I think we all have moments in our life, in romantic and platonic relationships, where we go, Oh, what if I missed that? What if? What would have happened if a certain conversation had gone a different way?”
Mixed Critical Reception
The film received a mixed response from critics following its premiere at Cannes, with a 65% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score based on 37 reviews.
The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw praised the production values but described the film as “anaemic” and “laborious”. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman said it was “like Brokeback Mountain on sedatives”.
Others were more enthusiastic. Time’s Stephanie Zacharek highlighted the film’s “quiet lushness” and “remarkable” performances, while Elle’s Tomris Laffly described it as “pitch-perfect”, “quietly radical” and “a rare treat”.
Hermanus’ Acclaimed Career
Hermanus is best known for Skoonheid (2011), which won the Queer Palm at the Cannes Film Festival, and Moffie (2019), a powerful drama about a young gay conscript navigating compulsory military service in apartheid-era South Africa.
In 2022, he directed Living, which went on to receive Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Watch the trailer for The History of Sound below.
