Once - Lovely Songs But Seriously...

 (2007) ★★★☆☆

Well, the answer was, as you might've found out, neither yes nor no, when he asked if she still loved her husband before they went on their separate ways. She was actually telling her 'I love you' in Czech. The fact is, the more you find out about this film, the more you'll be fascinated by it. Of course you gotta be a fan of folk rock or at least have some feelings for the songs they play in the film.

It's set in Dublin, Ireland. What's Ireland famous for? U2? Westlife? Boyzone? You gotta be kidding me. It's been famous for exporting poets and folk songwriters, always. So this is a film about music, poetic romance and contradictions. It's not a sad film despite full of sad songs. The message: to love doesn't necessarily mean to have and to hold.

A heart-broken soul (Glen Hansard, the frontman for the Irish rock band, The Frames), dumped by his girlfriend, busking on Grafton Street. A girl (Marketa Irglova) comes up to him, initially in the hope of him being able to fix her hoover, and they talk. He then finds out she is left by her husband with a little kid. They're both struggling and together they start to write songs about how they feel. So as expected, in-betweens are alternative folk songs, and impromptu music seemingly. I enjoyed most of them, but I wasn't Falling Slowly to be frank. I was once into folk rock but not quite anymore, coz that sorta music is rather heart-wrenching. When happy, you don't need it. When unhappy, you don't want it (I did get Damien Rice's debut and Peter Bradley Adams, and stuff). But the girl did take my breath away near the end, with a song like this:

The Hill

Walking up the hill tonight

when you have closed your eyes.

I wish I didn't have to make

all those mistakes and be wise.

Please try to be patient

and know that I'm still learning.

I'm sorry that you have to see

the strength inside me burning.

But where are you my angel now?

Don't you see me crying?

And I know that you can't do it all

but you can't say I'm not trying.

I'm on my knees in front of him

but he doesn't seem to see me.

With all his troubles on his mind

he's looking right through me.

And I'm letting myself down

beside this fire in you.

And I wish that you could see

that half my troubles too.

Looking at you sleeping

I'm with the man I know.

I'm sitting here weeping

while the hours pass so slow.

And I know that in the morning

I'll have to let you go

and you'll be just a man

once I used to know.

But for these past few days

someone I don't recognize.

This isn't all my fault.

when will you realize?

Looking at you leaving, I'm looking for a sign