Sing Your Melody

Working on a budget of only $160,000, Director John Carney crafts a beautiful film about the creation of music and unpredictability of love. Once is a musical without any glamour or kitsch, and is acted by professional musicians who do not have any experience in film. This organic approach to filmmaking heightens the emotional impact and realism of the film.

Known in the script only as guy and girl, Glen Hansard of the Irish band the Frames and Marketa Irglova play a Dublin street singer and a Czech immigrant who meet by chance. They connect as struggling artists with dreams of success and as lonely hearts in a dreary city. Over the course of a week they write, record, and fall in love.

The music in the film was written and performed by Hansard and Irglova. The tunes are simple but poignant, and coupled with lyrics that are smart and moving. They sing about the pitfalls and glories of love in aching voices. The songs are increasingly about their relationship with each other as they create music, like when Hansard croons, “Slowly sing your melody, I'll sing along.” The film is shot in a handheld style that compliments the music; both feel rough and slightly unfinished. The musical and visual styles provide an insight into the ugly beauty of creation.

Hansard and Irglova actually did fall in love while filming and the sincerity of their feelings is obvious. The romance of Once is even more real when compared with the leading man/ leading lady induced chemistry of Hollywood films. One bittersweet scene where they ride a motorcycle to a cliff overlooking the city is especially moving. They finally confront their feelings for one another awkwardly and indirectly, but leave the most important things unsaid. The things unspoken and unsung in Once are as important as what is heard on-screen.

In the end the lovers are not drawn apart by tragic circumstances, but by something just as tragic, reality.