Oliver Hermanus's The History of Sound, adapted from Ben Shattuck's story, presents a love narrative set in early 20th-century America but underwhelms with its overly tasteful execution. The film, which follows the relationship between a singer and a musicologist, suffers from a lack of genuine emotional engagement. While it showcases strong performances from Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor, their talents do not translate into a heartfelt portrayal, leaving the love story feeling superficial and overly refined. The film's folk music elements also fail to resonate, feeling more like artifacts than authentic expressions of culture.
The film is an anaemic, laborious take on love and music—its emotional resonance dulled by its own upmarket values and polished classiness.
Hermanus's adaptation of Shattuck's story struggles to find a balance between the characters' emotional depth and the film's restrained tastefulness.
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