Romantic drama film The History of Sound, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor, will premiere exclusively on streaming platform SkyShowtime in Spain on August 12.
The feature film will be included as part of the standard SkyShowtime subscription, allowing viewers in Spain to watch without paying any additional purchase or rental fee.
The digital release follows the movie's run in commercial cinemas and its presentation on the international film festival circuit.
SkyShowtime is a joint venture streaming service launched by European and American media conglomerates, offering film and television content across multiple European markets.
Festival Competition and Cast Details
Before its digital debut, The History of Sound competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Held annually in France, Cannes is among the world's most prestigious film festivals, with the Palme d'Or representing its highest competitive honor.
The romantic drama stars Irish actor Paul Mescal and English actor Josh O'Connor in the lead roles, alongside Oscar winner Chris Cooper. Mescal earned an Academy Award nomination for his breakthrough performance in the 2022 film Aftersun, while O'Connor won a Golden Globe for playing Prince Charles in The Crown.
Cooper, who completes the main cast, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 2002 film Adaptation and has appeared in numerous acclaimed American dramas.
Literary Adaptation and Story Background
South African director Oliver Hermanus helmed the picture, which combines elements of romance, music, and period drama. Hermanus previously gained international recognition for directing feature films such as Moffie and the British drama Living.
The screenplay is based on the short story collection The History of Sound and Origin Stories by American author Ben Shattuck. Shattuck is a writer and illustrator whose fiction frequently focuses on historical New England settings and local folklore.
Set against the backdrop of the early twentieth century, the narrative begins in 1917 and centers on Lionel, a young singer raised in rural Kentucky. Lionel grew up surrounded by traditional American music, listening to his father perform songs on the front porch of their family home.
Kentucky has a long historical connection to traditional folk music, where oral traditions and acoustic songs were passed down through generations in rural communities.
Boston Conservatory and the Maine Expedition
Lionel's life changes when he earns a scholarship to attend the Boston Conservatory of Music. Established in 1867 in Boston, Massachusetts, the conservatory is one of the oldest performing arts institutions in the United States.
While studying at the Boston institution, Lionel meets a fellow student named David. The two young men quickly discover a mutual passion for regional folk ballads and soon form a personal and romantic relationship.
Driven by their shared devotion to music, Lionel and David embark on a winter expedition through the remote forests and islands of Maine. Their mission is to record the songs of their fellow countrymen, aiming to capture and preserve a vulnerable segment of American musical heritage before it fades away.
Maine, located in the northeastern New England region, is known for its extensive pine forests, rugged coastlines, and isolated island communities that historically preserved distinct regional dialects and folk customs.
Decades of Legacy and Personal Impact
Although their field recording project takes place over the course of a single winter, the experience leaves a profound and permanent imprint on both men. The film follows their connection as it unfolds across several decades, exploring how their bond evolves well beyond that single season.
The folk recordings gathered during their journey continue to resonate throughout Lionel's life. The story highlights how the music accompanies him over many years, as he takes decades to fully process and understand the ultimate meaning of that transformative winter.
