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Listening to the song “Falling Slowing” feels like I’m being transporting back to a gorgeous fresh-in-love time of my life. In fact it’s just the memory of watching ‘Once’ this afternoon.
Good luck finding a bad word about this film anywhere, and you certainly won’t find one here.
It’s touted as a love story, and you definitely feel the love, enough to flood all the cobble stoned streets in Ireland, but you’ve never seen a love story like this. Some try and slot it into the “musical” genre which, although I was brought up on a healthy diet of Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, is an insult.
The songs and storyline in Once share a beautifully symbiotic relationship, where to have one without the other would be like a guitar without strings. The music is so seamlessly blended that rather than announcing a musical-esque jump into a song and dance routine it has an undeniable naturalness.
It helps of course that the main actors Glen Hansard, lead singer of Irish group the Frames and Czech musician Marketa Irglova wrote the music they perform in the film. Whether it’s because you get to see the songs grow and blossom or the home movies of the woman behind some many of them, or the basic fact that they are brilliant pieces of music they really make Once something very very special.
Instruments set aside, Hansard and Irglova have a lovely chemistry that is a joy to watch. Irglova was only 17 when Once was shot, but you’d never guess it from way she pulls of the forthright and inquisitive Czech immigrant. And as far as red haired Irish men, you don’t get more authentic than Hansard and when that beguiling charm is in your genes it’s hard to go wrong. I was so entrenched in being part of their lives in the week that they meet I didn’t even realise the characters didn’t have names until the credits rolled and Irglova had played “girl” and Hansard “guy”. It certainly says a lot about the connection established with the characters if something which is often so integral was deemed unnecessary and went completely unnoticed.
Forget the smooth, planned out shots of big budget cinema, a lot of the scenes in Once have a shaky hand-held “style”. At one point it did seem slightly mockumentary, but overall it adds to the intimacy. You really feel like you are squashed in the bedroom practicing, or riding in the car listening to the first recording of the songs.
While a lot has been said about the story and music one of the most charming aspects of the film is often taken for granted, and that is the gorgeous humour that is spattered throughout. It’s funny without trying which creates a delightful surprise element. Irglova towing around her ‘hoover’ has a timeless appeal, the thought of it still makes me smile.
Don’t expect soft romantic lighting, or long mooning shots, what keeps Once in tune is its guts. Its not afraid to show the rough edges of the characters or the production so not only do you enjoy what you see, hear and feel, it’s what this film is in itself that also grabs hold of you.
And what is Once? It’s real and honest and beautiful. It’s everything you want in a movie and more.
I’ve spent the whole time I wrote this review listening to the soundtrack from the website, and I’ll be buying Hansard and Irgolva’s album tomorrow.
I implore you to see this film for your own good. And if you need someone to share the popcorn with I promise I won’t spoil the end.
Credits
Writer & Director: John Carney
Music: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Cast: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova
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