Once

Upon a time in Dublin.  Sandy and I watched the movie "Once" on Friday.  Interstingly, we both had a Netflix copy of it.

I was on my way home and called Sandy to see if she had eaten, if she wanted to go out and get something, or maybe come over to watch a movie over pizza and wine.  Part of this was drivine by the fact that I enjoy her company, part by the fact that my New Year's resolution was that I wouldn't drink alone, at least for the month of January, and I really wanted a glass of wine.

The movie got great reviews, so our expectations were high.  Unfortunately, high expectations are difficult to reach.  It turned out to be a sweet little movie about two musical people who meet, grow close through music and make beautiful music together.

Kim had given me a copy of "The Swell Season" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.  I play it constantly.  It is the companion CD to the movie music. Actually, that album came out in 2006, and the songs were included in the film.  That is, some of the songs from the sound track are on it, but others also that aren't featured in the film, but fit well with the plot.  I got that and the soundtrack to "Once".  The music is the best thing in the movie, and that is fitting.

The couple meet when he is a busker on the Dublin streets, playing the guitar and singing to supplement his income as a Hoover repair guy ("Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy").  Hansard and Irglova, a couple in real life, wrote and performed all the music on the soundtrack except one number.

Dublin looks wonderful.  The accents are authentic:  often hard to understand.  For me at least.  He has broken up with an unfaithful girlfriend, she has left her husband in the Czech republic and moved to Dublin with her mother and young daughter.

That's all I'll say about the plot except their music brings them together, and transforms both of their lives, though not in any formulaic fashion.

It's a small gem.

Comments

[Melinda]

Hey,
I like this film too. I like your writing and the things that catch your attention.
Melinda