Paul Mescal has criticized the comparisons between his upcoming film, The History of Sound, and the acclaimed Brokeback Mountain, describing such analogies as lazy and frustrating. During a recent press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, the actor, known for his role in All of Us Strangers, argued that he sees no significant similarities between the two works, beyond their brief connection at a camp. Brokeback Mountain is a beautiful film, but it deals with repression, while this film is fundamentally oriented in the opposite direction, Mescal emphasized.
For the actor, love is the only common ground
The History of Sound, directed by Oliver Hermanus, focuses on the relationship between two musicians, Lionel and David, who travel to New England in 1919 to record folk songs. The story, which also examines their bond after the experiences of war, features a cast that includes Josh O’Connor and Chris Cooper, among others. Mescal emphasized that the film celebrates the love between these two men, distinguishing itself from Brokeback Mountain, which explores the pain of a repressed relationship.
In his comments, Mescal also reflected on how the script of The History of Sound describes love through actions rather than words. I have learned in my own life that kindness is incredibly underestimated in romantic relationships and should be celebrated, he stated. This focus on action and feeling is presented as a key element that attracted the actor to the project, which he first read at the age of 24, four years before they began filming.
Comparisons between the two films may arise since both are adapted from short stories and address themes of love and connection, but Mescal insists that his project moves away from the melancholic narrative of Brokeback Mountain and focuses on the celebration of genuine love.