Overview
- The USA/UK period drama from director Oliver Hermanus, adapted by Ben Shattuck from his short story, arrives in Germany to strong early notices for its music-led storytelling.
- Lionel and David, played by Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, travel through rural New England using an Edison phonograph and wax cylinders to record folk songs from people’s homes.
- Reviews highlight the film’s restrained queer romance, noting the leads’ understated chemistry and a tone that favors quiet feeling over explicit passion.
- The narrative stretches across decades, following Lionel’s life from the post–World War I journey to a reflective late-life coda that dwells on memory and legacy.
- Critics point to its Cannes pedigree, a 127-minute runtime, and the use of traditional songs like Silver Dagger and murder ballads that give the film its plaintive mood.