Paul Mescal Denounces Comparisons Between New Film and Brokeback Mountain

CANNES, France – Actor Paul Mescal spoke at the Cannes Film Festival about his new film, “The History of Sound,” and addressed the portrayal of masculinity in cinema.

Mescal, who stars alongside Josh O'Connor in the gay romance directed by Oliver Hermanus, believes that the film moves away from the traditional alpha male roles commonly seen in Hollywood. “It’s ever shifting,” he stated. “I think we’re moving away from the traditional, alpha, leading male characters.” Mescal emphasized that the film focuses more on the intimate relationship between his character, Lionel, and O’Connor’s character, David.

During the press conference, Mescal expressed frustration over comparisons of his film to the iconic “Brokeback Mountain.” He critiqued such comparisons as “lazy and frustrating,” as many reviews have drawn parallels between the two films. “I personally don’t see the parallels at all with ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ other than we spent a little time in a tent,” he joked, eliciting laughter from attendees. He noted that while “Brokeback Mountain” addresses themes of repression, his film celebrates love between its male characters.

He also praised O’Connor, who could not attend the press conference due to filming commitments with Steven Spielberg. Mescal described O’Connor as a great collaborator, saying, “Josh has a great gift… the person the general public sees is very similar to the one that we know.” Their friendship, nurtured over five years, helped strengthen their on-screen chemistry.

Despite the heavy subject matter, Mescal shared that the filming environment was light-hearted. “It was very boyish and nonsensical at times,” he remarked, adding that he and O’Connor became obsessed with eating eight Jolly Ranchers each day during production.

When reflecting on how the film affected his views on love, Mescal shared a personal insight. He recalled being 24 when he first read the script, stating he might not have portrayed Lionel the same way if he had acted younger. He emphasized the complexity of love, quoting a poignant speech from Andrew Scott in “Fleabag.”

“Kindness is wildly underrated in romantic relationships and should be celebrated,” Mescal concluded, highlighting a key theme from the film. “The History of Sound” premiered on Wednesday night at Cannes to warm applause, and Mescal became emotional during the audience’s reaction.