Paul Mescal Rejects Brokeback Comparisons for Cannes Gay Romance

Paul Mescal has strongly rejected comparisons between his new film, The History of Sound, and Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain, calling such parallels "lazy and frustrating." Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, Mescal emphasized that while Brokeback Mountain deals with repression, The History of Sound is a celebration of love between two men, set in the early 20th century as they travel to record folk songs after World War I. Mescal noted that aside from a brief tent scene, the films share little in common thematically or narratively. Director Oliver Hermanus echoed this sentiment, highlighting that Brokeback Mountain was not an influence on their work and advocating for more nuanced portrayals of queer relationships in cinema. The History of Sound, starring Mescal and Josh O'Connor, received a standing ovation at Cannes and positive critical reception, further distinguishing it from the earlier landmark film. Both actors have previously starred in acclaimed queer love stories, adding depth to their roles in this new film.