Carney's own Bogart and Bacall

Title: Once
Director: John Carney
Producer: Martina Niland
Writer: John Carney
Starring: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova
Music By: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Interference
Distributer: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release Year: 2007



Once is a very simple story. Glen Hansard is "Guy" and Marketa Irglova is "Girl". Both of them are struggling musicians. The guy works at a "Hoover Fixer" shop (vacuums) that his father owns. When he isn't working there, he plays his guitar out in the street, leaving his case open for any caring donations. He plays covers in the daytime and saves his originals for the nighttime, since he feels that people don't care enough about hearing his songs to give him any money. One night, the girl stumbles upon the guy while he is playing his songs and starts up a conversation with him. What starts out as a guy helping out a girl with her broken vacuum begins to blossom into a great friendship and eventual romance. Together, with his guitar skills and songs and her piano skills, the two collaborate. Soon enough, they find the money that makes it possible to record the songs in a professional studio. They both have their own personal troubles, and end up finding consolation in each other.

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Ever since first hearing about Once at last years' Academy Awards, I've been waiting for the day when I would be able to see it. The film, budgeted at the small amount of $160,000, was the "dream-come-true" story at the ceremonies, taking home the Oscar for Best Original Song. Since then, I've seen the film in stores such as Barnes and Noble, but at too expensive a price. I was so excited when I found the film waiting for me on the shelf at the Broome County Public Library yesterday afternoon.

I really enjoyed this film. It's not very often that you come across one such as this. The story is very romantic and genuine, one that most likely will pull on anyone's heartstrings if they aren't too embarrassed to let it (obviously, I'm talking about the guys. Remember, the ones who are closet Notebook fans?). The film is a musical, but not in that typical musical fashion that you think of when you hear the word, with all the bright colors and crazy choreography. Not a musical that you would find Gene Kelly in, but one that he would most definitely approve of.

The film only cost $160,000 to make, and grossed in $14 million dollars (and that's only as of December 6th, 2007)! Hansard and Irglova are not professional actors, but professional musicians; this really helps in giving the film its genuine authenticity. All but one of the songs are written by the two musicians, with Hansard taking the cake for most of them. It's really great to watch the film and then get really excited about listening to the soundtrack. I once tried to listen to the soundtrack before seeing the film, but it didn't work for me. I recommend seeing before listening.

Director John Carney is the former bassist for Glen Hansard's band, The Frames. Originally, he intended to cast Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later, Red Eye, Batman Begins) for the guy role, but Murphy didn't like the idea of acting opposite non-actor Irglova and having to sing Hansard's octave-leaping songs, so he dropped out. I'm glad he did, because I cannot picture him fitting well with the role. Fortunately, Carney was then able to convince Hansard to take the job. It makes the film even greater, having the musician responsible for all the film's songs be the one to act in the role of the guy who writes them all!

Something I really love is the fact that Hansard and Irglova ended up getting together in real life, forming their romantic relationship while on a promotional tour across North America. The two had known each other for nearly six years at that point. Hansard was quoted in Entertainment Weekly, stating, "I had been falling in love with her for a long time, but I kept telling myself she's just a kid." At the time of shooting the film, Hansard was 37 and Irglova was 19. Carney did a good job at predicting their relationship while they were still filming.

Check this film out if you're in the mood for a film that will make you smile while you listen to some great singer-songwriter-type songs that go hand-in-hand with the memorable story of two ordinary people who end up falling into each other's lives; a story of something that only happens once (yup, I had to do it).

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Scenes from Once set to the film's original song, "Falling Slowly"


"Falling Slowly" winning Best Original Song at the 2007 Oscars