This weekend I was much happier than I thought I’d be to catch “Once” while it was still playing in the theaters. This movie is truly a demonstration of perfect simplicity. I thought I’d like it, but it was a great movie. The film is set in Dublin and its the story of an Irish street musician and a Czech immigrant who form a bond and music ensues.

Its been described as a musical which is entirely accurate. Although, its a musical like Purple Rain was a musical, not a musical like a Rodgers and Hammerstein production. The plot and dialog don’t lead you to song and dance numbers, but to unforced opportunities to play entire songs.

The stars of the film are Glen Hansard from the Irish band The Frames and Czech singer songwriter Markéta Irglová, neither of whom are professional actors. They met when Glen Hansard was touring in the Czech Republic and they recorded an album together, The Swell Season. The director, John Carney, was previously a bass player in The Frames with Hansard from 91′ to 93′.

There’s a lot of fun facts for this movie. It was filmed on a shoe-string budget of $160,000 in 17 days. To save money they shot scenes with friends and in friends’ apartments. Hansard’s mother even has a brief role. The most fun fact is that Hansard ’s only other acting role was in one of my favorite music movies, The Commitments.

Most of the music reminds me of a combination of Badly Drawn Boy, Elliot Smith, Jeff Buckley with a touch of Radio Head. If you like the songs on on hear you’ve got a few options to pick them up. You can grab the soundtrack for all the songs. Other versions from The Frames album, The Cost or The Swell Season by Marketa and Hansard. The song “Falling Slowly” actually appears on all three.

From The Soundtrack

Falling Slowly

When Your Minds Made Up