‘Once’ Is a Love Story for All of Us
One of my favorite Irish films (and one of my favorite films in general) is the musical romance Once (2007). It is written and directed by John Carney, who also wrote and directed Sing Street (2016) (check out Aakanksha’s last post!). I first discovered it in high school while watching two people dance to “Falling Slowly” during a recital. I listened to that song about 1,000 times afterward, even before watching the movie for context. When I finally saw it, I knew I had found something special that would stick with me for a long time. I really appreciate films that find the beauty in simplicity and in everyday life, which Once does exceptionally well.
The story takes place in Dublin, and follows the life of an unnamed man (Glen Hansard) who repairs vacuums by day and busks by night, playing covers and the occasional original song on acoustic guitar. One day he meets an unnamed Czech immigrant (Marketa Irglova) selling flowers on the street, who stops to listen to his music. She happens to have a broken vacuum that needs fixing, and the guitar player agrees to take a look at it. The flower seller reveals that she plays piano and wants to play one of the guitar player’s original songs. She encourages him to focus less on covers and more on originals, and suggests that he record them. As the two continue to make music together, they build a friendship that turns into something more.
The musical sequences in this film are artistic and moving, and it feels like you’re watching a character’s life unfold in each one rather than something scripted. Every song is packed with emotion, whether it is love, sadness, frustration, or joy. The musical scenes are a bit longer than I expected, but it is the length that makes them feel more realistic and impactful, because when an actual life event is happening, there is no time limit. One example of this is in the song “Lies,” which captures the guitar player’s bittersweet memories from his last relationship, and the length of the song seems to demonstrate the way they linger in his head. The characters are brutally honest in the way that they portray their thoughts and feelings through their music. Some songs touch on more intense themes like betrayal, confusion, and passionate love, while others are funny and light (“Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy” for example). The music brings significance to everyday moments, like taking a walk down the street at night to sort through your thoughts, messing around with a piano in a music store, or having a fun night in with close friends.
The other aspect of Once that makes it great is that it’s a believable love story, with all the awkwardness and coincidences that are part of two people meeting and falling in love. One reason that it seems so realistic is that the movie was filmed using handheld camerawork, making the story feel intimate, as if watching a home movie. There is also plenty of chemistry between the main characters, which makes their romance feel genuine, and the actors even dated in real life after meeting on set. The characters both have complicated histories that impact their relationship, but their strong friendship and understanding of each other persists above all else. The ending may not be exactly what you expect, but it is satisfying and demonstrates the bittersweet and twisting nature of life, especially the idea that when a door closes, a window opens. That is really the running theme of the whole movie; though the characters face hardships and lows, they also have glorious wins.
Once is unique in that it captures the simple moments that bring both happiness and suffering, as well as the journey to figure out life, love, and dreams for the future. It shows that sometimes two people meet at the perfect moment in time, are in sync, create something truly amazing together, and no one knows why it happens. The lo-fi filming, quirky characters, and relatable songs all contribute to the feeling that you’ve lived this story yourself. Even if you’ve never written a song or picked up an instrument, this movie draws you into the magic of taking a risk to pursue your dream, which can change your entire outlook on life.
Originally published on our WordPress website on September 30, 2020.
