Once is the touching story of a flower girl and a vacuum repairman who meet on the streets of Dublin and realize they share a common love of music. Once is a film stripped to its core and left with nothing but the music that tells the story. The main “actors” (real life musical couple Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard) are named Guy and Girl according to IMDB.com.
Girl encounters Guy singing a song at night that clearly illustrates how he was hurt by another woman he loved very much. Girl happens to inquire if Guy has a real job and Guy tells Girl he is a Hoover repairman. What a great coincidence this turns out to be as Girl needs her vacuum repaired! Guy learns that Girl plays the piano but cannot afford one of her own.
This unique yet universal set up leads the film in a more of a musical direction. The film doesn’t play like a typical musical which makes it so much more natural and endearing. The musical numbers provide the deep character development of any moving non music based film. The minimalism of the film works exceedingly towards its advantage to present raw and moving realism.
The Power of Music
Once also succeeds in reminding the audience the power of music to evoke untold and sometimes unwanted emotions. Throughout human history mankind has relied on music to express these emotions as it is the most cathartic way to do so. Love is so powerful a concept that losing and regaining it often needs music as anchor to understand the swell of emotions a human being cannot control.
Once reminds filmgoers of the power of music to inspire, to help deal with loss, love, pain, joy, and the whole spectrum of complications life causes. Once also uses music as a unifier and leveler of all types of people. Anyone from any walk of life can appreciate the ability of music to reach into your subconscious and bring about a memory or a dream.
Once is the kind of movie that will remind you why you love the cinema. It is proof that there are still original ideas being created in a slew of Hollywood blockbusters, remakes, and sequels. All of which have their place but films like Once capture something none of those types of films often do: soul.
Rent and Watch It with Someone Who Matters
Not enough can be said about Once !--and its inspirational form of storytelling through music, one of the oldest forms of human expression. You watch these people and they come off so incredibly human and real that it is impossible to not connect with them. The best part about Once is how it avoids clichés and provides many unexpected reveals about the characters as the film progresses.
Music is the glue that holds different people together and Once!-- does a phenomenal job of reminding the audience of this fact. There is nothing left to say but to go add this to your Netflix or Blockbuster queue or get over to your favorite video store and find this on DVD. Sit back with someone who you care about and get lost in this movie. Once ranks in this self regarded film lover’s book as one of the best independent films to be released in a long time. The film deserved all of the accolades it received.
