Behind the Hollywood centre stage of dazzling musicals, where lights are too bright, visuals are too garish, there is a soft, resounding melody strung by heartstrings in the backstage of less feted, more personal films of bigger impact. This is ONCE, and ironically films like this never grace the screen many times. Stripped off from pretentious filmmaking, ONCE is that kind of film that says a big “no” to visual grandeurs and rather sticks to the documentary-style shots, evoking a feel of real urgency that musicals can’t just be about the shimmer but should be about sincerity.


John Carney’s story is simple: there’s an Irish guy (rather appropriately unnamed and considered as the Guy) who meets a Czech girl (let’s call her the Girl) in the streets of Dublin, while he’s plucking his guitar strings, singing his heart out. From the first few montages, one could perhaps be prejudiced and call this a homemade video or some sort due to its unstaged photography. Whoever’s calling this a “homemade video” should eat their own balls right now, because not just the Sundance Festival gave this a crown, but also Steven Spielberg too fell in love with this film and called it “...enough for a year’s movie-viewing pleasure.” But the story of the Guy-meets-Girl doesn’t end there; we somehow discover that the Guy (Glen Hansard) suffers a heartbreak from his ex, and he belts his vocals in the cold air of the streets, voicing the plea deep within; and the Girl (Marketa Irglova), soon we find out, is not a carefree spirit who walks the streets and sells flowers and magazines, but keeps responsibility of her young daughter, also confused with her relationship with her husband left at home.


He sings, and she applauded. That’s what where it started, leading to a heartwarming, rather bittersweet tale two musicians bereft with emotional stability and longed opportunities, finding solace in each other, ending with a modest, bittersweet heartache but still a happy, sweeping feel. Let’s not forget ONCE is a musical, and this is where the film truly soars – with its affecting, brilliant songwriting. Hansard is a gifted songwriter, guitarist and a singer, while Irglova is a delicate beauty of subtle piano skills, with a voice like a nightingale’s too. So when the two sits together in an instrument shop and played “Falling Slowly” for the first time, we see and feel their chemistry. The song is beautiful, moving and brilliantly noteworthy. We somehow thought maybe characters here just break up into a song, but unlike other musicals, the real dialogue is in its lyrics, the real beauty is in its rhythm. Hitherto Hansard, who had been in THE COMMITMENTS film ages ago, is considered a novice in acting, so with Irglova who had never been in films, they bring out natural performances that are believable enough to attain our satisfaction.


ONCE is a tale of friendship with a meaning. The two found understanding in each other and mutual respect. The Girl tells the Guy to London and win his ex’s heart back with his written music; and the Guy tells the Girl to be with his husband and make things work for the future of their daughter. They both lived to share that moment of compassion, and moved on to their lives bringing that moment to be a part of them forever.


Thus called ONCE, a profound tale of two people bringing meaning to their lives through the power of music and the voice of the heart.

VERDICT:

Low-budgeted, but never low-brow, ONCE is that indie of indie films that’s surprisingly profound, moving and heartwarming, not just through its beautiful music but its lead actors as well, who are so effortless. This might cause you to shed some tears in its ending, but as mentioned, it will lift you up into the air with this feel of happiness. ONCE, indeed, should be seen more than once.


RATING: A