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Review - Once
This irresistable Irish musical won the audience award at the 2007 Sundance festival, and at the 2007 Dublin film festival, and enjoyed box office of $20m from a micro-budget of just €130,000. Directed by John Carney and starring two musicians, Ireland's Glen Hansard (Band: The Frames) and Czech pianist-songwriter Marketa Irglova, it tells the tale of a busker (credited simply as 'Guy') and a flower seller ('Girl') who meet on the streets of modern day Dublin.
Intrigued by the power of a tune he is performing (Falling Slowly), the girl befriends the guy. Despite his initial reluctance, the guy soon gets smitten. There is sufficient chemistry on screen between the two leads to keep us interested as to how this romance might develop.
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When he finds out she is a pianist, there is the opportunity for a duet, in a music shop. Carney introduces the songs in a natural way via busking, or through an impromptu use of location such as the music shop, upstairs at the back of a bus, or at a party, until the singer/songwriting duet forms an ever closer bond and they eventually manage to hire a studio and lay down some tracks.
The soundtrack is impressive with many original songs that were written by the two leads. Falling Slowly won the 2007 Best Song at the Academy Awards and sales of the CD more than recouped the initial outlay of the film budget. The two leads are directed intelligently, and are always watchable when on screen together. In one protracted section, the movie feels more like a music video, and the number of non-musical scenes involving the two leads have perhaps been restricted to reflect their acting abilities. Nevertheless, the movie retains its charm throughout, and has touched audiences who appreciate an understated approach to the subject of modern romance.
Charismatic 8/10
Review written by John Franklin : October 2010
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