Once Mini-Review

The unnamed protagonist is Guy and the other of course Girl.  Glen Hansard plays an Irish busker in Dublin who harbours dreams of success for his treasured songs he plays in the street long after the day’s hustle and bustle has died down.  Marketa Irglova is the girl who is engrossed by one of his late night songs as she sells the Big Issue.

Once may not be a decidedly unconventional drama it is very different for a musical.  The relationship between the pair develops as we discover her own musical talent and they decide to record a demo together.  The story as with all musicals is almost besides the point.  This is film in most every way is the opposite of that big musical released this month.  Once uses a near dogma95 philosophy, digital video, tiny budget, and in another reversal this time it’s musicians trying their damnest to be actors.  The decisions are all especially effective.  The simple tale, simply told has a lot of depth and the style means there is much more thinking required on the part of the viewer.

Rather than any musical I’ve ever seen this actually made me think of an extended music video.  Characters sing plenty but never in a manner that takes you out of the real world.

The film is only half the story however.  Where Tim Burton’s effort was weak because of crap songs Once excels.  The songs are of the soulful singer-songwriter variety and your enjoyment of the film will revolve around what you think of them.  Hansard is a member of the Irish indie rock group the Frames (can’t say I’ve ever heard their stuff myself) and his delivery is essential to what makes a believable performance and the songs interesting.  Irglova is a more subtle vocalist and her backup to Hansard pulls it all together.

I was really impressed by this little film and if you let it it will keep on haunting you.

9/10