Ryan McNeil
In case you missed my post yesterday, today is the fifth birthday of The Matinee. To celebrate that, I’ve gone back to the film that started it all for me – John Carney’s ONCE.
The story, so elegant in its simplicity, is about a guy and a girl (neither character has a name) that meet on he streets of Dublin. They are both living simple lives and just making ends meet – he (Glen Hansard) by busking and working in his father’s repair shop, she (Markéta Irglová) by selling magazines and flowers to passers-by, and taking whatever odd job she can find. After hearing him play one of his original songs, she takes an interest in his music…and he takes an interest in her. The latter doesn’t have much future, but the former kindles a special flame between them as she pushes him to make something of himself through his music.
ONCE is a film I fell hard for on first watch – it was my first four-star review – and time has only raised its stature in my eyes. It has become the sort of film I like to cite as the reason why I go to the movies. I go to be caught by surprise, to be delighted, and to occasionally be moved, and ONCE was able to do all three of these things in one effortless swing.
In thinking about the music within the film, I marvel at how well it is used as a device to echo our most romantic notions. Take the “Falling Slowly” scene as an example. While we are told that she is a well-trained piano player, is it reasonable to assume they would play so well together on their first shot? Not really. However, for musicians that does happen sometimes. Voices find they are able to come together with perfect harmony, instrumentalists smile as they realize how well they work together. It’s rare, but it happens…and you can’t help but wish that more things in life worked that way. What would you give to make a new friend, or be introduced to someone you found attractive, and find that perfect harmonious “click”?
The other musical device ONCE uses so very well is its lyrical expression. In some ways it’s almost an unconventional musical in the way the characters dot the story with song, and likewise the way those songs underline what’s happening in their heads and in their hearts. interestingly, many of the lyrics would sound ridiculous if they were spoken out loud (“The little cracks they escalated/ and before we knew it was too late”). However, when underlined with melody, they become achingly honest expression, and often get across words we fumble when we try to speak.
The film is filled with so many wonderful touches that go beyond its use of music. A detail I never picked up on before is the way the guy is always trying to extend his time with the girl. It’s that subtle sign of how smitten with her he is, that every get-together merits going on longer. Another great undercurrent is its story of community. Every step that happens in this journey – from the songwriting, to the financing, even down to the suit he wears to the bank – happens because someone close to our hero cares enough about him to help him along. Part of me fears that as we grow closer together electronically, these types of personal communities will become increasingly rare.
ONCE celebrates true community, and reminds us why we should never let such human interaction fall by the wayside.
Perhaps more than anything else, ONCE is about hope – hope that something better is there for the taking. That “something better” might be making a living doing what you love, it might be connecting with someone special, or it might be reconnecting with someone you lost. Or, as one song puts it:
This is what you’ve waited for
Your chance to even up the score
Such ideas go against the grain, seem like starry-eyed dreaming, and the sort of thing that should be kept tucked away. However, if we hold tight to them, especially if we’re lucky enough to have someone encourage us towards them, then so many possibilities remain there for the taking.
Thinking back on things, ONCE is the perfect embodiment of what I want to do with this site. I want to watch movies that delight and move me, and I want to be able to spread the word about these titles to people who may never have known about them. Along the way, I have underestimated and overestimated some of the things I’ve seen – but ONCE remains as beautiful as it was that first time I watched it five years ago.
Fitting post for the sites bday. I never watched the entire film though, just caught the second half on scheduled TV a while back, thanks for unintentionallly reminding me to find me a copy and watch this asap.
Considering I only jotted down two hundred words or so for that first post, I thought giving it the proper treatment was a good idea.
I do recommend sitting down for the whole thing sometime, the opening stretch of this film is pretty darned charming.
Finally got to watching it completely. I had the exact same “unconventional musical” notion when watching it. The songs made the film so easy to digest, except in the flashback scenes of his ex-girl; although the song playing there had this uncomfortable feel to it, I found it so appropriate that the mood of the song fit the theme of the flashbacks (regret, nostalgia).
I also liked the whole cut and paste aesthetic to the film, but the soundtrack turned this movie from good to brilliant, looking forward to a rewatch.
Glad to hear I could convince you to watch it proper!
I know what you’re talking about with the flashback scene (“Lies”). In re-watching the piece for this post, I noticed that it felt a little jarring too…but then I noticed that his laptop is open, and that the scene suggests he’s watching some video of his ex that he has kept while he sings.
It remains a little off-balance, but I get too swept up in the song to really put too much stock into what I’m seeing during those moments.
Happy Site Birthday!
I love this movie. I had the soundtrack for about a year or two before watching it, and I remember making up scenarios in my head about how they must fit in in the film, and when I watched it, nothing could be further. But it was amazing! Especially the “Falling Slowly” scene.
Thanks Nik – you’ve been a huge support around here, so I can honestly say that I never would have made it to five years without ya!
I was grinning like an idiot as I rewatched the “Falling Slowly” scene for this piece, which is a bit better than my first glimpse of the film where I was moved to tears.
I saw Glen & Marketa live and they put on a helluva show, especially Glen, who broke at least three guitar strings that night!
Happy blogiversary to you. Blogs like yours give me something to shoot for.
I saw Glen & Marketa play here in 2009. It’s hard to pick just one highlight of the show – it could be when they opened with a cover of Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic”, or when Glen stepped out to the lip of the stage and sang “Say It To Me Now” completely un-mic’d.
Thanks for the well-wishes Rich – I must remember to finally get you on the podcast before the site’s next birthday!
Happy fifth birthday! What an amazing feat. I hope my site is around even half as long.
Once is one of my favorite smaller films. I don’t think Glen Hansard will ever create an album that comes close to the brilliance of the music used in Once. I was so happy when it won an Oscar for best original song.
Your site is one of those that constantly spurs me to keep pushing forward. So I’m sure in short order we’ll be celebrating *it’s* fifth birthday. Maybe by then, The Matinee will finally show up in The Wednesday Links!
I remain optimistic about Glen’s music, especially since he’s already been around so long (I wanted to follow-up ONCE by re-watching him in THE COMMITMENTS). I’m actually missing out on seeing him play here in Toronto, but he’s coming to town on the last night of TIFF.
Happy Matinee Birthday. Great post. Isn’t it wonderful when you revisit a film from your past that meant so much and find it STILL means so much?
That shot right in the aftermath of “Falling Slowly” when the two of them are walking through the square and she’s still dragging the vaccuum cleaner behind her…oh man. It makes me laugh and want to well up all at once.
The moment that got me this time was the visit to the tailor, seeing her so encouraging, him so self-concious, and the tailor such a joker. It was this great moment of honesty dotted by perfect humour.
And yeah, going back to a film and realizing that I might love it even more than I first did makes me feel a little less anxious about having starting my reviewing days off with a 4-out-of-4 review.
Happy Birthday, Matinee!
I think this is the first time I hear of someone who loves Once that much, most people just like parts of it. Personally, I was very affected by it and almost crying at the end… wonderful review!
I loved it so much that when I walked out of the theatre that first afternoon, I called my friend who recommended it and yelled at her…
…I couldn’t believe she let me go so long without seeing it.
In recent years, I’ve seen so many movies and enjoy a good portion of them, but there are very few that I truly LOVE. These are movies that give me chills just thinking about them. They never disappoint and will kick me out of a funk no matter what else is happening. There aren’t too many of them. Serenity is one of those movies. Almost Famous is another. Possibly the most prominent example for me is Once.
I saw Once by chance during a preview screening where Carney, Hansard, and Irglova were touring with the movie. I knew nothing about it going in and loved it. To put icing on the cake, they performed a few songs from the movie in the theater afterwards. Just wonderful. I’ve been a fan of their music ever since and have caught both The Swell Season and Hansard multiple times in concert. I’m seeing him again in September and can’t wait.
Sorry for the rambling comment, Ryan. Obviously, I’m right with you on this movie. Great post!
I love that this little film instills this sort of passion in its fans – it’s as if we’re all gathered around that table to celebrate with the other artists during the “Gold” scene. Like a secret handshake or something.
Thanks for reading Dan. I was really happy to give ONCE the proper treatment considering how brief my original post was.
I totally agree. Have you seen The Swell Season documentary? If you haven’t, I highly recommend checking it out. It has some great performances and includes some fascinating background to what happened after Once.
I haven’t seen this film, but after reading this review I know I must see it. Music in film (and films about music in life) are really important to me – it sounds right up my alley. Great write-up Ryan.
Well if you haven’t seen it yet, consider its recommendation my gift to you in honour of my site turning five years old. Get your mitts on a copy and be sure to write about it after you’ve watched.