The History of Sound at filmforum Duisburg: A Moving Drama about Love and Music
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The History of Sound: Love, Memory, and the Power of Music
On Sunday, November 15, 2026, the filmforum Duisburg will present Oliver Hermanus’ widely acclaimed musical drama The History of Sound. The screening begins at 8:30 PM and takes you into an emotional world of folk music, lost closeness, and indelible memories.
When Music Becomes a Common Language
In 1917, music student Lionel from Kentucky meets composer David in a bar in Boston. Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor embody two young men who intertwine their love for music with a deep personal connection. Between singing, letters, and unspoken feelings, a quiet, intense melodrama unfolds.
Folk Music as the Sound Archive of a Lost Time
Years later, Lionel and David travel through rural America to record traditional folk songs. Their work preserves voices, melodies, and stories onto Edison cylinders, making the film a sensual exploration of sound, memory, and musical heritage. The recordings become the emotional counterpart to their own relationship.
Oliver Hermanus Directs Closeness with Great Precision
Director Oliver Hermanus tells the story from Lionel's perspective, merging historical atmosphere with finely tuned imagery. Cinematographer Alexander Dynan captures landscapes and interiors with great visual calm. The orchestration of voice, natural sounds, and subdued sound creates a dense cinematic atmosphere where every note gains meaning.
A Queer Musical Drama as Part of Queer.Life.Duisburg
The screening is part of the 38th QUEER.LIFE.DUISBURG Festival. The historical drama is loosely based on the short story of the same name by Ben Shattuck and competed at the Cannes Film Festival. Hermanus’ film Beauty was awarded the Queer Palm at Cannes in 2011.
Cinema Moment at filmforum Duisburg
The filmforum at Dellplatz is one of Germany's traditional municipal cinemas, combining the atmosphere of a historic cinema palace with modern image and sound technology. The audience mood here meets a concentrated cinematic effect: voices, landscapes, and musical motifs unfold in a space dedicated entirely to the concert experience of the film.
Conclusion: A Film for Everyone Who Experiences Music as Memory
The History of Sound promises an atmospheric cinema evening about love, folk music, and the traces that shared sounds leave in life. Those who appreciate emotional stage performances, historical material, and finely told queer cinema will experience an extraordinary film experience at the filmforum Duisburg.
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