2015 is like an all you can eat buffet of blockbuster action, and I must admit I have a complete lack of self-control at buffets. After the brilliant jam-packed action of Avengers and Mad Max, what I needed was a palette cleanser - which is why Once was so refreshing.
Once is about a guy and a girl who meet each other on the streets of Dublin and bond through a mutual love of music. And that’s about it. While sparse plot can be the ruin of a film, it is a great strength for Once, it is a film which does not rely on coincidence or concept to keep you entertained, but rather uses its characters to tell a story - a novel idea.
One of the most fascinating things about Once is that its two stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova were not professional actors, they were musicians. As such, they are in roles that they were born to play, people whose lives have not perhaps gone the way they had anticipated however who still see beauty through music. Hansard and Irglova give tender and raw performances, entirely believable and compelling without being over the top. They have real chemistry, having been friends prior to filming, in fact director John Carney quipped that instead of getting people to act like they knew each other he had to make them act like they had only just met. Carney succeeds in this challenge, as the onscreen relationship grows in a realistic manner, unfolding slowly. The film is cast wonderfully well, with smaller roles adding up to more than the sum of their parts; for example Hansard’s world weary father speaks volumes simply by supporting his son with a cup of tea.
John Carney was determined to direct on a shoe-string budget, wanting the intimacy of a small crew. This was a brilliant decision which is evident in the organic quality of the final film, dialogue never feels forced, and there are no big stars or set pieces which distract from the message of the film. Carney talked about it not being important to have the best script, because it is a film ‘more about tone’, this meant a lot of improvisation on set which can sometimes ruin the pace of a film, however it adds to the overall feel of Once as a story about real people. There are times when the lack of budget is evident, some shots are frustratingly wobbly, and there is a lack of the more complex camera shots we take for granted in modern film. Ultimately however, the direction and filmmaking is in service of a film with a rugged and raw tone, which is part of what makes Once such a triumph.
60% of Once is music, with most of the key emotional beats of the film being told through a musical performance. The musical numbers feel organic and integral to the plot, this was not a film with added music nor a musical with added plot, instead both elements work in tandem in an incredibly satisfying way. The music of Once is truly remarkable, it is stripped back and emotional, infused with folk and Irish influences with a modern twist. The signature song for the film, Falling Slowly, earned Hansard and Irglova a well-deserved Oscar and garnered more attention for this hidden gem of a film. Falling Slowly is talismanic of the film, not in a hurry but with an inevitable momentum, two well rounded characters falling slowly, hesitantly, defiantly, and perhaps lovingly together.
Steven Spielberg, master of spectacle and sentiment, said “a little movie called Once gave me enough inspiration to last the rest of the year”. Once is a wonderfully hopeful film, uplifting but never cynically so, it is not pitch perfect, but it is honest and will stick with you long after viewing.
WHO: Marketa Irglova steals the film, incredibly watchable.
WHAT: The music - sublime.
WHY: It is a brilliantly charming film, and will leave you smiling.
WHEN: When you need a break from visual effects and superstars.
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