Quick Take
Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound (aka The Men Who Didn’t Love Women) is a gorgeously made, buttoned-up melodrama that often feels like it’s saving its feelings for a final scene. If you like your movies restrained and stylish, it’s a feast for the eyes — but if you came for heat, you might leave wanting more.
What the Movie Is Trying To Do
At its core this is a slow-burning romance about a relationship that isn’t meant to be celebrated out loud. Hermanus keeps everything measured: the acting is deliberate, the camera is careful, and the emotional temperature stays cool. The film flirts with the same haunted territory as Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain, but it chooses a very different, more buttoned-down route.
Where It Trips
The biggest issue isn’t that it’s quiet — it’s that the quiet feels engineered. The movie aims for restraint and ends up feeling a little chilly and repetitive. Plot beats and character jolts are held back until the final act, which makes the big reveal feel like a belated apology rather than a payoff.
The Performances and the Look
There’s a lot to admire: solid performances and a clean, composed visual style that proves Hermanus knows how to craft a mood. The soundtrack tries to lift the emotion, but even the score can’t fully jump-start a story that has lost momentum.
Who Will Like It
If you enjoy artful, melancholy films that prioritize control over catharsis, this will likely charm you. Fans of pared-down drama and pristine filmmaking will appreciate its restraint. But if you want a film that grabs your chest and refuses to let go, this isn’t the one.
Final Verdict
The History of Sound is handsome, serious, and carefully composed — and sometimes that carefulness becomes its own problem. Think of it as a gorgeous, well-pressed coat that looks perfect on the hanger but doesn’t warm you up once you put it on.