Overview

• The film debuted at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival to a nine-minute standing ovation, highlighting its impact on audiences.
• Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor deliver praised performances as two music students whose bond evolves into a poignant love story spanning decades.
• Director Oliver Hermanus centers the narrative on Lionel’s synesthesia and the pair’s journey recording folk songs in rural Maine, using music as a thematic anchor.
• Critics have noted the film’s restrained depiction of queer romance, drawing comparisons to 'Brokeback Mountain,' but some found its pacing and emotional tone overly muted.
• The immersive folk score, composed by Oliver Coates and featuring Mescal’s own singing, has been widely acclaimed for its authenticity and emotional resonance.