Once

• Title: Once
• IMDB: link

Once is an unpretentious film that has all the makings of a huge hit, between the music and chemistry amongst the leads there is no escaping the compassion that overwhelms. Humorous and poignant, this independent Irish driven musical doesn’t get caught up in the mundane, but rather keeps in tune with an inspiring romance.

Once showcases the talents of Glen Hansard, singer/songwriter for the popular Irish band The Frames, and the delicate voice of Markéta Irglová, a new and refreshing face to the big screen. No worries if you are not a big musical fan, Once doesn’t pound you over the head with one song after another, but adds a perfect mix of dialogue and character interaction to accompany the music.

How refreshing is it to see two new faces, two people that you would see any day on the street, that is just one thing Once does to pull the audience in. Many will find such a close relation to love, life and lyrics that sound as if they were written specifically for you. What a relief to watch a film that gives you the perfect ending to the story, doesn’t Hollywoodize it and turn it into some messed up superficial happy ending or, worse yet, the suicidal nobody has a happy ending and everybody dies ending. Writer/director, John Carney, hits it out of the park when it comes to matters of love, communication and passion. Taking it a step further, John gives us the natural humor that comes out of everyday events, not forced, but delicately placed to create laughter in all the right spots.

A 30-something musician (Glen Hansard) plays his guitar and sings with all his heart to earn a buck on the streets of Dublin, he catches the attention of a young and audacious Czech immigrant (Markéta Irglová), who throws him a dime and the story begins. The next day she returns with a Hoover for him to repair in his dad’s vacuum shop, but first they hit a music-instrument store where the owner lets her play the floor models. As she plays, our hero realizes that she’s the one, the perfect match to his folk sound and the two of them start the dance. With a past of difficult relationships, he with a broken heart and her still married, but separated, they find themselves in a difficult situation. Realizing how perfectly matched they are for one another, but what could never be; their love is played out through his music. She convinces him to take out a loan and rent a studio for the weekend, where they pick up some other street performers, create a small band and play their hearts out, recording what our Irish singer/songwriter hopes to be his future. With a perfect ending to music and love our characters finish where they feel they belong, Once ends with a gift to treasure.

Once is so easy to fall in love with, as soon as the music began and Glen graced the screen the audience silenced and sat in awe. Certainly a little rough around the edges, but where the film lacks in technology and budget it more than makes up in quality of story and dialogue. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová have chemistry that floats off the screen and takes hold of your every thought. Deep and understanding of male and female relationships and the struggle it takes to make your dreams come true, Once is hard not to enjoy and leaves the audience with a light heart and a smile on their face.