A Tiny Movie With Enormous Results.

Rating: 10/10 (31 August 2018)

There is a scene in the Irish musical 'Once' in which our nameless characters--our Guy and Girl--play a song in a music store. Guy sings lead and plays guitar while girl plays piano and sings backup. Clocking in at just over four minutes, this song is so emotional and enchanting that we feel the effects of that one tune long after it ends. Sometimes one scene can define a film. To me it was our two stars singing the song entitled "Falling Slowly".
'Once' could have been made with a big budget, but the director chose to make it micro budget and left the script skeletal. This allows more authenticity and takes us closer to the leads. The home video camera look makes this feel like a documentary, plus the immersiveness into the characters' lives make the viewer feel like they are watching old home movies of their best friends.
'Once' is a love letter to music. Music is a universal art that is so personal and speaks to the soul. With music, so many people feel that their lives make sense. Director John Carney shows on film exactly how this can be. Each song in this movie is very emotional, but getting to know the characters on screen increases our affections. And the characters are developed pretty well in a short amount of time. Guy is a busker who also works at his father's vacuum shop. He recently broke up with his girlfriend, but he still loves her. Girl is a single mother in a townhouse who is separated from her husband. She wants her daughter to grow up with her father. Are Guy and Girl the perfect couple? In a romantic sense, no. It crossed their minds to get with each other, but their relationship is platonic and purely musical. She helps him with his music career (which includes getting a professional demo) and motivates him to get back with his girlfriend. Their intimate relationship does not need to be romantic.
Listen to each song. Pay attention to the lyrics and the heart that Guy and Girl are pouring into them. The songs reflect their lives in such fascinating scenes. The simplicity of a guitar and a piano can go long ways.
See this passion project and download all of the songs. The characters are charming and the songs are enchanting.
4/4