Modern Musical

Rating: 9/10 (12 October 2009)

After watching "Once" I read a few reviews that described it as a modern musical and that is a perfect description. I'm not a fan of the "traditional" musical where the guys and gals break into song and dance at every opportunity. The music may be great but the placing of the songs in the story always grates a little.
This film is full of songs (but no dancing) and it feels perfectly natural. The two main characters meet through music and are attracted to each other partly because of their big part music plays in both their lives. The songs are in the film as part of their story and don't feel shoehorned in.
The film is only 80 minutes long and the story is simple. A Dublin busker and a Czech immigrant strike up a friendship. There is a mutual attraction but their individual circumstances mean that we know they will not end up together, however much we want that to happen. Glenn Hansard and Marketa Irglova are excellent as the couple. Each of their stories is sad in its own way but not without hope. I won't give much detail as part of the beauty of the film is how their relationship develops as they learn more about each other.
From a musical point of view the Oscar winning song "Falling Slowly" is a classic in the making. I couldn't get it out my head for days afterwards. However some of the other Glenn Hansard songs are a bit too intense and earnest for me. Anyone familiar with the albums of Hansard's band The Frames will know what I'm talking about. Irglova's songs are easier on the ear and more romantic.
Even a cynic by myself couldn't help be touched by this bittersweet story that is always grounded in the real world.
A beautiful that I would recommend to anyone.