The first trailer for Oliver Hermanus‘ poetic The History of Sound, starring The Crown Emmy winner Josh O’Connor and Gladiator II standout Paul Mescal, dropped today.

The World War I love story is adapted from Ben Shattuck’s Pushcart Prize-winning short story. Hermanus (Beauty, Moffie) directs for Cop Car producer End Cue. Molly Price, Alison Bartlett and Chris Cooper also star.

Shattuck’s short story revolves around two young men, Lionel (Mescal) and David (O’Connor). The film, set in 1917, sees Lionel — a young, talented music student — meet David at the Boston Conservatory, where they bond over a deep love of folk music. Years later, Lionel receives a letter from David, leading to an impromptu journey through the backwoods of Maine to collect traditional songs. This unexpected reunion, ensuing love affair, and the music they collect and preserve, will shape the course of Lionel’s life far beyond his own awareness.

Lest readers think this sounds too much like Brokeback Mountain — also adapted from a prize-winning short story — Mescal has made his disagreement clear.

“I personally don’t see the parallel at all between Brokeback Mountain, despite the fact that we spent a little bit of time in a tent,” he said in Cannes. “When I look at Brokeback Mountain, it’s dealing with repression, this film is pointed in the opposite direction. To be honest, I find those comparisons lazy and frustrating.”

Hermanus added that the comparison, despite the films’ differences “shows there should be more forms about these nuances of queer relationships, beyond the context what most movies deal with. “

Deadline’s chief film critic Pete Hammond beamed about the movie in his Cannes review: “Deliberately paced and gorgeously shot by Alexander Dynan, The History of Sound may unfold slowly but give it a chance and it will wrap you up and take you places movies don’t often go these days…This may be Mescal’s best work in films yet.”

Mubi took North America rights out of Cannes, while Focus Features took international. Mubi has set the film’s U.S. theatrical release for September 12.

You can watch Deadline’s Cannes interview with Mescal and Hermanus below.