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Now On DVD: John Carney, Once

by Chris Flippo
12/20/2007

I sat down this week to compile what I think were the top ten films of 2007, but it has been a struggle. How do you compare the bloody brilliance of No Country for Old Men with Hot Fuzz? However, as I’ve gone through all the movies I saw this year, I have realized that one of my favorites may have gone unnoticed by many filmgoers.

The small Irish gem Once came to the Athens Ciné last August, and those who saw the film were nothing less than enamoured with it. Yes, it’s a love story, and yes, it’s a musical, but I’m glad to say it’s not as clichéd as the former or as contrived as the latter. It sidesteps all the trappings of those genres to become one of the most engrossing films of the year.

First off, let me say that there is nothing about Once that should work. The two leads are newcomers not only to the screen but to the art of acting. The director is unknown. Not to mention that the film’s miniscule budget would hardly cover the catering on a bigger production. However, Once still manages to be one of the year’s best.

It’s a simple story, probably as simple as stories come. One day, a singer-songwriter (The Frames’ Glen Hansard) meets a girl (Marketa Irglova) and, naturally, there is instant chemistry. He is a guitarist who spends most of his days repairing vacuums, but when he discovers she plays the piano, he recruits her to help him record an album.

At its core, the film is about love and how conditions aren’t always perfect for it. It’s not a high-concept film, but its charm and wit will surprise you. The characters, though not given names, are so sharply realized and portrayed that you feel a real sense of who they are without unnecessary exposition. Look out for the scene in which she finally tells him her secret. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more poignant scene this year.

And then there is the music, which has a nice, simple poetry to it. I enjoyed how the film never stopped for the music, but how it worked with it. When our two leads sing, the film doesn’t give us a thirty second snapshot and then move on to something else. Instead, director John Carney wisely allows the entire song to play out, sometimes within a single shot. Once is all about music and the joy of creating it. Why would anyone want to cut away from those moments?

Yes, there are some imperfections that arise from its small budget. There are a couple of times where the sound and color are off, and during a night scene, the camera’s silhouette can be seen on the sidewalk. However, it’s weird, because little imperfections like these make the film even more endearing. They give the film a scrappy, off-the-cuff feel that’s more personable than over-processed Hollywood fare.

Once will be released on DVD this week. If you haven’t discovered it yet, make sure to stop by the video store. It’s low-key all right, but you’ll be thinking about it long after those other musicals have come and gone.

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