Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor brought tears to Cannes Film Festival attendees on Wednesday night with Oliver Hermanus’ “The History of Sound,” which earned a six-minute standing ovation.
“This has been one of the most wonderful creative collaborations of my very, very short career, but this has been a testament to the genius of Paul Mescal,” said director Hermanus.
Alongside Mescal and O’Connor, the film stars Chris Cooper, Molly Price, Raphael Sbarge, Hadley Robinson, Emma Canning, Briana Middleton and Gary Raymond.
“The History of Sound” marks Hermanus’ sixth feature, with his most recent being 2022’s “Living” starring Bill Nighy.
“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.
Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor’s performance of Oliver Hermanus’ “The History of Sound,” which received a six-minute standing ovation, moved the audience to tears on Wednesday night at the Cannes Film Festival.
Since O’Connor was wrapping up filming his role in Steven Spielberg’s next movie, he was unable to attend the premiere, but Mescal received a standing ovation as he entered.
Despite O’Connor’s absence, Mescal was the center of attention. Before the movie began, when the audience usually sits in reverent silence, one boisterous fan yelled, “We love you, Paul!”. At the conclusion, viewers were sobbing and slapping at one another in an attempt to capture Mescal on camera as she broke down.
“It has been a testament to Paul Mescal’s genius, but it has also been one of the most wonderful creative collaborations of my very, very short career,” director Hermanus said.
The audience was greatly affected by the film’s stark, beautiful folk music performances, which were frequently performed a cappella. After the successful screening, a line of tuxedo-wearing guests were humming tunes at the urinals in the men’s room.
Stars like Cara Delevingne, John C., Michelle Rodriguez, Jenny Slate, who is married to screenwriter Ben Shattuck, and Gracie Abrams, who is dating Mescal, were also present. Reilly. .
The relationship between two men who journey to New England together in the summer of 1919 to document the folk songs of their rural countrymen is the focus of “The History of Sound,” which is based on Shattuck’s short story of the same name. Chris Cooper, Molly Price, Raphael Sbarge, Hadley Robinson, Emma Canning, Briana Middleton, and Gary Raymond co-star with Mescal and O’Connor. The screenplay was written and directed by Hermanus, a South African.
This is Hermanus’ sixth feature film; his most recent was “Living,” which starred Bill Nighy in 2022. Hermanus’s second film, “Beauty,” which followed a reclusive man as he came to terms with his sexuality, was the last time he participated in the Cannes competition. South Africa’s Oscar entry for best foreign language film was chosen, and the film won the Queer Palm at the festival, but it did not make the shortlist.
The star of “Normal People” and “Gladiator II,” Mescal, who will play Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles biopic, was most recently at Cannes with the 2022 coming-of-age drama “Aftersun.”. He was nominated for an Oscar for best actor for that film. In addition to starring in another film that competes with Kelly Reichardt’s “The Mastermind,” O’Connor, an Emmy winner, is making her first trip to Cannes with “The History of Sound.”. “.”.
It takes place from May 13 to May 24.
