Heartwarming

Rating: 10/10 (3 August 2015)

"Part of me / Has died / And won't return / And part of me / Wants to hide / The part that's burned" – From "Once" song by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.
This passage from the title song's lyrics finely describes all the things that would happen on the screen. And not only in the movie but often in our lives as well. You might know that feeling when something new is going to enter your life while doors to the past are still not closed. But let's not get ahead. To my surprise, it is hard to write review for a movie that I've seen many times. Despite the fact I lived through every detail several times, it is rather difficult to bring it all together.
Well, this is a story about middle-aged Irish busker and young Czech woman who meet each other accidentally on the streets of Dublin. We don't get characters' names, they're just a Guy and a Girl for a film viewer. The guy is repairing hoovers at his dad's workshop or busking on the street with an old guitar, while the girl is trying to earn some money by selling flowers on the street, or by cleaning apartments. Both have personal romantic problems and experiences behind them. They get know each other better through music. They share songs which represent their emotions. They're undoubtedly falling in love with each other, but this love finds a way out only through a music co-creation. In the end of the plot they say goodbye each other. The meeting of the Guy with the Girl pushes their lives in the right directions.
The movie is made on a tiny budget. It is filmed on hand-held unprofessional camera. Even actors are infamous and inexperienced people. But all these components make the movie more natural and breathing. Formally this is a musical film but it isn't musical in the stereotypical sense when some common story is told through songs and dances. Glen Hansard, who is acting the Guy, is a famous Irish singer-songwriter, front-man of the band, "The Frames". His sincere and touching music goes along with the story which seems very organic as both main characters are musicians. The soundtrack won a Grammy award and this fact speaks for itself.
The circumstance that the characters are unnamed and even that the movie is named "Once" tells us that this story is not unique. Our lives and the lives of others are full of such a bittersweet love stories. The warmth and the honesty with which "Once" is told, makes this film so heartwarming and loved by many. The Guy, "broken-hearted hoover fixer sucker guy", is a romantic dreamer feeling alone. The Girl is in a difficult life situation. That is to say, both main characters seem they've gone astray in their lives. Paradoxically, their unspoken love gives them a strength to find themselves and gain confidence to make important decisions. I like that this love story goes without intrigues and vulgarity. Marketa's character says that it would only result in "hanky-panky", which is a bad idea. The characters are mature enough and they don't rush to extremes.
It's a love story which has nothing in common with Hollywood's sugary production. As for me, it is just a beautiful, simple and sincere movie with the fantastical soundtrack that certainly leaves a viewer with bright and deep emotions. I would recommend it to everyone who loves music and who still has ability to feel.