In Dublin a busker meets a Czech immigrant girl. Their shared passion for music creates an immediate bond between them and a tentative romance blossoms. At the same time the promise of taking their musical talents further appears to be moving into the realms of possibility.
Musicals are often overblown flamboyant extravaganzas that knowingly take audiences out of the real world but Once is something different. The debut film from writer/director John Carney successfully transposes the genre into the form of a low budget indie romance, and what a wonderful romance it is. This sweet natured film lovingly explores the transformative power of music and how it can connect us with our fellow man, despite the script's bittersweet undercurrents.
Carney's lightness of touch gives the film a realism lacking in traditional musicals, further emphasised by the naturalistic performances from the two leads. Musician Glen Hansard – a founding member of The Frames who took a supporting role in The Commitments – and songwriter Markéta Irglová have an obvious chemistry and their scenes together have a tenderness lacking in most allegedly romantic movies. From their first meeting it's clear there's a spark between them, their personalities complementing each other; Hansard the heartbroken self-deprecating loner and Irglová's upfront cheeky charm masking her own pain. It's not long before they are sat side by side, him with guitar her on the piano for the first of many memorable tunes.
Going against the musical tradition the pair's self-penned songs grow organically out of the drama. The music perfectly conveys the emotions of the characters whether sung on the streets, in bedsits or in a recording studio where in a moment some would claim as clichéd the initially disinterested sound engineer is won over. But by this stage in the film the musicians have earned this moment of brazen triumphalism, and it's a cracking tune anyway. As are most of the songs which make up the infectious soundtrack, all intrinsically linked to the film's success.
In a cynical age, where Hollywood's contrived version of love is forced down audience's throats Carney's film is a welcome respite. But more than that Once is a charming musical romance full of real warmth and heart, with two leads portraying an endearing couple with a relationship that's genuinely touching. Like a favourite song Once weaves its seductive spell, a film about love and a film to fall in love with. Like a favourite song it's over all too soon, but its melodies linger long in the memory.
It's nice enough, but this has attained indie Shawshank Redemption levels of overratedness (overration? overracity?!). If you don't like the music - and I didn't - there's not much to offer you; I think I'd cross the street if I heard him busking like that. Or maybe not go down the street at all.
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