Once, He Said

The musical is as movie genre as old as the talkie. In recent years, it has taken a back seat probably best done in animation by Disney. But take heart, telling a story by singing your heart out has not died. John Carney director and writer has given us a totally different take on the concept with his film "Once".

eastern We are introduced to a Dublin street busker who is playing, as he says, what people want to hear during the day and his songs at night when there aren't as many people. A immigrant European women encourages him to record his music. Her aid and encouragement seems selfless, but in fact she also needs an outlet for her pain. As it turns out she is an accomplished musician and just the thing he needs to take his flagging pride to another level.

Both of these people are drifting after the loves of their lives failed them. He lost his girlfriend when she left him for a new life in London. The girl, there are no character names in this film, left the father of her child in her home country to find a new and more hopeful life. What they have in common is music and beautiful music it is.

In this film music is not incidental music to create background. The director is not creating moods or scene with familiar music. With their music, he created dialogue that drives the story and introduces us to the characters. Following them in their effort to record their songs, we are exposed to their dreams, suffer their pain and hear their stories.

In the wings lurks the question, can they over come their grief and find love and if they do will it be with each other? I won't tell you the answer to that, because it would spoil it for you, but I can tell you that seeing this film is a wonderful and worthwhile experience.