What Hermanus’ film does recall is the tradition of a straightforward period drama carried by its acting talent, and it is sure to revive some of the genre’s popular appeal by enlisting two of today’s most in-demand stars. While I thought he was miscast in Gladiator, Mescal gives a stirring lead performance in a role as tailored to him as the historical suits from Miyako Bellizzi. After proving himself this generation’s master of quiet longing in Normal People and Aftersun, the actor plays Lionel pianissimo with all the skill ascribed to his character. Accordingly, he does his best work in the aftermath of their research trip, when the experience lingers with him as he moves to Italy and England. Meanwhile, ever game for a period piece, Josh O’Connor delicately undercuts David’s outgoing nature with an unspoken heaviness after his time in the war. 

Unlike the solid performances, The History of Sound suffers from an underdeveloped element in its plot. The film opens with narration over soulful strings and visuals of a gurgling river, where an older Lionel (Chris Cooper) describes his perfect pitch and synesthesia. While we are told that our protagonist perceives sound uniquely, and promised outright that this is one of his defining characteristics, we are never really shown this quality in action. The result is that the central dialogue between music and love doesn’t land as strongly as it should. For a film with muted performances and a sombre, sentimental tone, the oversight is a significant setback.