Actor Paul Mescal openly talks about his struggle with depression. - Actor Paul Mescal openly discusses his battle with depression.
At the Cannes Film Festival, Paul Mescal Discards Brokeback Mountain Comparisons
Paul Mescal, rising star of the film industry, has shared insights into his mental health struggles on film sets. In an interview at Cannes, the 29-year-old actor expressed, "I think, if you have a predisposition towards depression, it can sometimes be challenging on set because I won't be exhibiting the version of my personality that I typically present."
Discussing the complexities of his profession, Mescal explained, "As an actor, you're accustomed to dividing your personality, which can be beneficial at work but occasionally unhealthy in daily life."
In the same conversation, Mescal was seen alongside Josh O'Connor, among the cast of "The History of Sound," a historical drama about a gay love story. Directed by Oliver Hermanus, the film is competing at the festival.
Mescal's previous roles, such as the breakthrough television series "Normal People," have solidified his cult status. His appearance at Cannes elicited especially fervent cheers whenever he was sighted.
This is not the first time Mescal has portrayed a queer character. He commented, "I believe we're moving away from the traditional male alpha figures in the cinematic world."
Comparisons to the cult film "Brokeback Mountain" were drawn in Cannes. However, Mescal downplayed such comparisons, regarding them as "lazy and frustrating." He further clarified, "The History of Sound" focuses on the celebration of love between two men, in stark contrast to "Brokeback Mountain," which, in his view, is more about the repression of their relationship and sexuality.
CannesPaul MescalDepressionLoveFilm setMenJosh O'Connor
While both films revolve around male-male relationships, Mescal emphasized that their contexts, tones, and intentions are vastly different [1][2][3]. A brief summary of the essential differences is presented below:
| Film | Portrayal of Male Love | Main Theme | Paul Mescal’s Comments ||----------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------|| Brokeback Mountain | Repressed, secretive | Societal repression, suffering | Deals with repression || The History of Sound | Open, celebratory | Expression, kindness, celebration | Celebrates love, not repression |
Mescal's main argument is that while both films may share a common theme, the environment, tone, and purpose of each work are vastly distinct [1][2][4].
- Paul Mescal, discussing the differences between "Brokeback Mountain" and "The History of Sound," stated, "The History of Sound" focuses on the celebration of love between two men, in contrast to "Brokeback Mountain," which is more about the repression of their relationship and sexuality.
- Differing from the traditional male alpha figures in movies, Mescal believes we're moving towards more representation of queer characters in cinema.
- As an actor, Mescal has struggled with mental health issues on film sets, stating, "If you have a predisposition towards depression, it can sometimes be challenging on set because I won't be exhibiting the version of my personality that I typically present."
