Review of Once (2007) by Anusha P — 11 May 2011

I sometimes only get around to reviewing a movie when I watch it the second time. I am now in that circumstance again.

A couple of years ago I watched a movie that I had only half-heartedly put on my Lovefilm list (probably my favourite thing about online movie rentals is the factthat you often stumble on something a little ?different? just because you are topping your list up). That film was Once. I instantly loved it, and finally got around to owning it when it was bought for me by sensible and lovely relatives this Christmas.

I settled down on New Year?s eve with my wife for a relaxing evening and a nice film together. We popped the disc in and I relived those same joyous feelings that I first experienced all that time ago.

?Once? is an Irish indie film shot by director John Carney on a micro-budget (£100k) and starring musicians (Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová) instead of actors. And what a triumph it is. It won Audience awards at Sundance and the Dublin International Film Festival, and the Oscar for best original song at the 2007 Academy Awards.

The story is quite simple ? a busker/hoover repairman meets an immigrant flower-seller and they share their love for music as their friendship builds.

Sounds a bit strange? Ok, it is, but bear with it, it?s a grower.

As the ?actors? aren?t in fact actors it could have felt a bit school-play or amateur, but the direction was very open and gave them the freedomto explore their real emotions and characteristics. It is scripted, but the cameras were usually set back from the action to allow the performers space to just be themselves.

The story is gentle and in fact I was a little (pleasantly) surprised by this, as I was expecting something grittier from a 15 rated indie flick. It would appear that the rating is entirely based on a smattering of sweary words, which are used in common speech and so are hardly coarse or offensive.

I would also like to point out a bit of a quibble I have with the DVD packaging? despite what the back-of-box writeupindicates this filmisNOT a Hollywood rom-com, it?s mostly about friendship and about sharing music and understanding. If you go in with an open mind I really don?t think you?ll be disappointed.

So, in conclusion:

I love that the main characters are never named and so are credited as ?guy? and ?girl?. I love the intimate feeling of the handheld camera-work. I love the music. I love the whole thing.

Really there?s not a lot more to say. Wellworth a watch. (Actually worth a buy as it?s only a few quid on Amazon).

9 stars.