In 1917 Boston, Lionel Worthing, a scholarship student from a small Kentucky farm, attends the Boston Conservatory. One evening in a bar, he hears a folk song sung by David White, a handsome and sophisticated piano player from New England. This moment captivates Lionel, marking the beginning of his life's transformation. David, who was born in Newport but raised in London by his uncle after his parents died, approaches Lionel boldly and asks him to walk him home. Their flirtation is intimate and playful, including a moment where David spits water into Lionel's mouth. They then have sex, though this scene is not shown on screen.

Lionel and David quickly bond over their shared love of music and folk songs, despite their very different backgrounds. Their relationship deepens as they continue their studies at the conservatory, forming a tender romantic connection. However, the outbreak of World War I interrupts their lives. David goes off to fight in the war, leaving Lionel behind in Boston.

After the war ends, David returns visibly changed and reluctant to discuss his experiences in Europe. Lionel struggles to understand the emotional distance that now exists between them. Despite this, they reunite and embark on a journey in the summer of 1920 through rural Maine. Their purpose is to collect and record folk songs from the local people for the university where David once taught. This trip is marked by moments of closeness and tension as they navigate their relationship and the lingering effects of the war.

During their travels, they meet various locals, including Thankful Mary Swain, and record their songs, preserving the cultural heritage of the region. The process is slow and intimate, with Lionel and David working closely together, their bond both strengthened and tested by the experience. The film portrays their interactions with the rural communities and the challenges of capturing authentic folk music on early recording equipment.

As the trip concludes, Lionel and David face an ambiguous future. Their final exchange before parting ways is filled with unspoken emotions and uncertainty about what lies ahead for them as a couple. Neither can fully articulate their feelings or hopes, leaving their relationship unresolved.

Years pass without any contact from David. Lionel, now older, engages in other relationships with men and women but remains emotionally guarded and aloof. He abruptly ends these relationships whenever they approach commitment, revealing his deep yearning and inability to move on from David. Despite his professional success, Lionel is adrift, waiting for something undefined.

In 1980 Boston, an older Lionel, portrayed by Chris Cooper, receives an unexpected transmission that brings the story full circle. This moment connects the past and present, revealing more about David's fate through a scene involving David's wife, played by Hadley Robinson. The film closes on this poignant note, emphasizing the enduring impact of Lionel and David's relationship and the memories that shape their lives.

The ending of The History of Sound (2025) shows Lionel and David in their later years, reflecting on their past journey of recording folk songs and their complex relationship. The film closes on a note of bittersweet memory and unresolved emotions, with older Lionel looking back on their shared history and the impact of their love and work.

Expanded narrative of the ending scene by scene:

The final sequence opens with an older Lionel (played by Chris Cooper) sitting quietly in a dimly lit room, surrounded by the archival recordings and memorabilia from his and David's travels in rural Maine. The camera lingers on his face, marked by time and introspection, as he listens to a faint folk melody on an old phonograph. This moment is heavy with nostalgia and a sense of loss.

The scene shifts to a flashback of Lionel and David (Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor) in the summer of 1920, traveling through the backwaters of Maine. They are seen carefully setting up recording equipment in humble homes, capturing the voices and songs of local people. Their interactions are tender but tinged with the tension of their secretive romantic relationship in a time of social repression.

As the flashback progresses, the film shows moments of joy and connection between the two men--laughing together, sharing quiet conversations, and bonding over their shared passion for music. However, there are also subtle signs of strain: the fear of exposure, the weight of societal expectations, and the ambiguity in their memories of each other.

Returning to the present, older Lionel reflects on the ambiguity of their relationship and the passage of time. He handles a photograph of David, his expression a mixture of affection and sorrow. The film does not explicitly state David's fate, but the tone suggests he is no longer alive or that they have long been separated.

The closing shot is of Lionel placing a record on the phonograph, the music filling the room as the screen fades to black. This final image underscores the enduring power of the songs they preserved and the lasting imprint of their love, even as the details of their story remain elusive.

In summary, the ending focuses on older Lionel's solitary reflection on their shared past, the folk music they saved, and the complex, often unspoken nature of their relationship. Lionel survives into old age, carrying the memories and legacy of their journey, while David's fate remains implied but not explicitly shown. The film closes on themes of memory, loss, and the preservation of history through sound.

The movie The History of Sound (2025) does not have any publicly documented post-credit scene. None of the available sources, including detailed plot summaries, reviews, or festival coverage, mention a post-credit scene or describe any additional footage after the credits roll.

Lionel and David are motivated by their shared passion for folk music and a desire to record and preserve the lives, voices, and traditional folk songs of their American countrymen, particularly in rural Maine, as part of a project connected to the university where David once taught.

The film explores the evolving romantic relationship between Lionel and David, beginning with their meeting and bonding over music at the Boston Music Conservatory in 1917, continuing through their reunion after World War I, and deepening as they travel together collecting folk songs. The narrative also delves into the ambiguity and complexity of their memories and relationship over time.

Older Lionel, portrayed by Chris Cooper, appears as a reflective figure who provides perspective on the past events and the relationship with David, adding depth to the narrative by showing how Lionel looks back on their shared history and the impact of their experiences.

Key supporting characters include Thankful Mary Swain, Belle, Clarissa, and others they meet in rural Maine. These characters represent the local communities whose folk songs and stories Lionel and David seek to document, enriching the film's exploration of cultural preservation and the personal connections formed during their travels.

World War I serves as a significant backdrop that affects both Lionel and David personally and shapes their relationship. David's return from the war marks a turning point, leading to their reunion and joint folk song collecting trip. The war's shadow influences the emotional tone of the film, highlighting themes of loss, memory, and the search for meaning through music and companionship.

The movie The History of Sound (2025) is a historical romantic drama with an R rating, indicating it is not specifically family-friendly and may contain content unsuitable for children or sensitive viewers.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Mature themes involving a romantic relationship between two men in the early 20th century, which may include intimate scenes portrayed with emotional depth but handled with care and subtlety.
• Some emotional intensity related to war aftermath, memory, loss, and grief, which could be heavy for sensitive viewers.
• The film explores complex adult relationships and identity, which might be challenging for younger audiences to fully understand.

There is no indication of explicit violence or graphic content, but the R rating suggests mature thematic material and possibly some adult language or situations. The film's tone is described as melancholic, beautiful, and reflective rather than sensational or shocking.

In summary, The History of Sound is best suited for mature audiences and may not be appropriate for children or those sensitive to adult themes related to romance, war trauma, and emotional complexity.