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Title: Once

Date Viewed: 6/17/07

Details:

Glen Hansard

Markéta Irglová

Written & directed by: John Carney

Score: 1/2

The Review: A good indie film, but (through no fault of its own) nowhere as good as Waitress. Without this accidental timing and unavoidable comparison, I might have rated Once much higher.

Glen Hansard plays a Dublin street busker (guitar and vocalist) who meets Marketa Irgloba's immigrant Czech street vendor, and from thence a tenuous, occasionally professional, highly engaging relationship is born. He's on the rebound from a love affair, and (as it turns out) she's formally unavailable -- even though the chemistry between the two is palpable and you're rooting for them to realize it. They rapidly discover each other's musical talents, enlist a backup band and create an album -- so while this is a well-constructed and interesting drama, it also has the air of a documentary about it. Which is not surprising, considering that (off-screen) both Hansard and Irglova are each individually quite accomplished musicians, and they actually have created an album together. The plot devices give them a chance to tell the story of their music.

The only downside is the speed of development, which is glacial. While the music is compelling -- I was humming and doodling some of the songs long after I left the theatre, and the score album should be available by now -- the overly comprehensive approach this film takes to its music lends it a plodding character that's difficult to shake. In one sense it's a feature-length music video; but in a more important sense, it explores a nascent relationship that you really want to see blossom.

Pretty good.

(4-Jul-07)

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