Once Review

In the mythology of ancient Greece, a group of nine goddesses were believed to be source of all human creative processes. Anyone who believes in the power these muses have can see how these muses touch two young Dubliners in Once, a movie musical inspired by their real lives and talents. A singer who is identified in the credits as just Guy (Glen Hansard) is a busker on Dublin's Grafton Street, performing songs both day and night. He plays songs known by some of the shoppers during store business hours, but also performs original material in the evening, when most of the shops have closed for the night. One night, Guy plays one of his own compositions, and draws the attention of a young woman the film as just Girl (Marketa Irglova), who is trying to peddle magazines. She likes Guy's songs, and inquires if he has written more. He says he has, but tells Girl they are in a rough draft stage. She wants to know more about his material, and recevies an invite from Guy to come to his place and hear them. She also gets a copy of these songs, which Guy has recorded on a CD at his residence.

Girl also learns that Guy also makes a bit of cash by fixing vacuum cleaners in a repair shop that is owned by Guy's father (Bill Hodnett). Soon, Girl asks Guy to repair her vacuum, which they follow by spending a lunch break at a music shop where Girl is friendly with the clerk, who lets her play the pianos that haven't been sold. There, she starts playing one of Guy's tunes, and fine tuning it in a way that grabs his interest. They spend the rest of the day together, which includes an introduction to Girl's mother (Danuse Ktrestova) and daughter (Kate Haugh). Guy learns during the introductions that the ladies are immigrants to Ireland from the Czech Republic. Guy's new friend reveals that she is separated from her husband (Senan Haugh), yet she finds herself drawn to Guy. Guy has already discovered that he feels the same way about Girl. They have misunderstandings, but they find a way to work through them.

They do this not only because of the attraction they have to one another, but they also recognize that they have developed a songwriting partnership. GIrl encourages Guy to find some way to book a studio and record some of their songs, and even accompanies him to a bank when he secures a small business loan. After the bank success, Guy enlists the help of a trio of fellow street musicians (Alaistair Foley, Gerard Hendrick, and Hugh Walsh) to rehearse with them and eventually play as a band in the studio. In the meantime, Guy has written a letter to his former girlfriend (Marcella Plunkett), and hopes to meet with her and talk about a reconciliation. Girl gets the same sort of letter from her estranged husband, who is coming to Dublin to see his family.

Once is not only the story of a relationship, but it is also the story of a dream held by every artist. These artists are musicians who play, record, and perform for the love of music. They have continued to pursue this craft as a way of keeping alive their faint hopes that they might make music that finds a bigger audience. The songs are a reflection of their lives, as well as their hopes and dreams. The songs, with titles like "Lies," "When Your Mind's Made Up," and "The Hill," are not only strong in their own right, but the songs are stories inside the movie's primary tale. The songs help to advance the tale. Once was written and directed by John Carney, a former musician who was one of the early members of The Frames, a band that is fronted by Hansard. This picture was an award winner at festivals in both Dublin and Sundance before its release to theaters. Once later garnered Oscar attention, and won the Academy Award for its song "Falling Slowly," which was written by Hansard and Irglova.

Carney has crafted a beautiful film around the song of stars Hansard and Irglova. Carney mixes the band chronicle of The Commitments (which featured Hansard in a small role) with the search for personal contentment found in Tender Mercies. There is also a bit of neo-realism in this film, for neither Hansard nor Irglova are trained actors. Carney provides a natural flow to both the relationship and to the creative process. The chemistry is just as natural between Hansard and Irglova, who had already recorded together before the making of Once. However, Guy and Girl might not have the final say about their future together. Still, in their short time together, they form a bond that is special in its own way. Guy's final gesture in the movie to his collaborator is the most special act of all.

Carney also adds a small sense of humor to the special nature of his movie. In the opening sequence of Once, Guy chases down a drug addict (Darren Healy) who has stolen Guy's daily earnings to feed his habit. The addict apologizes, then gets some help from Guy anyway. Girl has a great moment in the middle of the night as she desperately looks for money to buy batteries for her portable CD player. In one continuous shot, Carney gets cinematographer Tim Fleming to follow Girl home from a store where she gets the batteries. All the while, Girl absorbs the song that she ha come to love. A loan officer at a bank (Sean Miller) reveals more than sympathy for Guy and Girl in his brief but memorable scenes. In the studio, the engineer cynically dismisses Guy and his makeshift band as rank amateurs until they start playing. Once the sessions come to an end, the engineer invites the band for a drive as a way of making sure of the goodness of the album they have just completed. I also appreciated the scene in which Guy's father comes to understand why the son does not spend more time laboring in the shop. Guy makes believers of everybody who matters to him, both as a person and as a musician. Yet, unlike the standard Hollywood musical, Carney leaves the most important questions about Guy and Girl open to interpretation.

When Once was released to DVD, I bought it so I could enjoy this special movie once again. The commentary provided by Carney, Hansard, and Irglova shows the bonds these three share with one another. They talk about the memories about the film shoot and the creative instincts that were employed in the movie. Hansard and Irglova also get the opportunity to talk about each song that is palyed in Once. The DVD extras also includes two short features about the making of the movie, as well as a video for one of the film's songs. These features complement the movie, and enhance the special feeling this project has been to its principal people.

Once is a musical that pays a cheerful tribute to any musicians who keep on playing, in spite of the lack of monetary reward. One busker finds a friend who makes the busker see that his songs might be ready for a larger audience. Together, they hear their muses with a bit more clarity. They have been living their lives dreaming of the songs they might create, and knowing that it is possible that they might never collaborate again. For a few days, however, Guy and Girl seize the moments that have brought them together. When they are done, both once again wonder if more good things are going to follow as a result.

Portions of this review first appeared on Epinions in September 2007.