you need to see it to appreciate it

Rating: 9/10 (17 December 2007)

Describing what this movie is about is not enough to draw an average person to see it: after all it is basically about a guy and a girl who are brought together through the power of music, and a little help of the hoover vacuum. Naturally there is more to the story- and that something is the chemistry, honesty and the beauty of music which people have to see and feel for themselves.
'Once' is set in Ireland and revolves around a busker/artist (Glen Hansard) and a slightly eccentric girl (Markéta Irglová) who while passing by is drawn by his heart-felt voice and song. The guy and the girl clearly share a connection and a crush, but we learn that both have a history/ issues that prevents them from starting a romance- He is still in love with his ex gf who lives in London, while she is actually married and has a daughter. Still they continue their friendship and musical collaboration which results in his debut album. In a way, the movie is very realistic: Sometimes love is not enough- and most times love is just too complicated. Still, love can be beautiful when true emotion is felt.
To say that Once is an independent movie is an over-statement: budget must have been under $200,000 but its shooting style and ambiance honestly made the experience that much more real and personal. The music was heartfelt and really beautiful- the two main characters are both actual musicians who wrote and sang all of their songs in the movie and on the album. Another tidbit of information I learned after watching the movie was that the guy and the girl fell in love during the shooting and ended up dating afterwards! That just makes the movie all the more special and realistic: real heart-felt music and real romance, what can be better? (Free popcorn perhaps ;)