Once (2006)

'Best Original Song' Oscar Has Never Been More Meaningful

...or rather, closer to the importance of 'Best Picture'.

It was roughly the middle of the 4-hour marathon when two young faces, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, took up the stage to receive the Oscar for 'Best Original Song'. "This is amazing" Hansard said, "What are we even doing here, this is mad." He was right. Once is shot on two handicams, made 2 years ago with merely a 100 grand. It has everything that a movie should have if it wants to be ignored by the Academy. Yet they won.

Just like 'Best Original Screenplay' Oscar is the equivalent of 'Best Picture' for many indies, I believe this award meant the same for Once. Not just because the composers of the song are also actors nor because the film tells the story of two musicians singing and writing together, but also because Once takes most of its power from the subtle competence of the songs themselves. And without doubt, the point where we hear 'Falling Slowly' for the first time is the film's climax. That scene shines from within and has an inexpressible charm to it. It's hopeful, yet melancholic; amateur yet beautiful; the song stumbles a lot, but eventually works. This simple song achieves much more than the emotion-packed theatrical love scenes that we're used to seeing in typical romantic films.

Not to say that the other songs in the film are ordinary - if you're into singer/songwriter stuff, I have reasons to believe you'll like them. Are they sophisticated pieces? Hardly. With just a guitar and a vocal (and occassionally an accompanying piano) the songs are as conventional as they can get. But they're effective. Touchy lyrics and simple melodies are good fit for the overall atmosphere of the movie. Besides, would it make sense for these two amateur spirits to compose musical masterpieces and still be singing on the streets, selling flowers and fixing hoovers?

Unfortunately, the film's virtues are also its only vice. From time to time (and this happens fairly often) the film gets too involved with the songs to the point of forgetting that it's essentially a movie and not a random compilation of video clips for these certain songs. This is a significant limit to what the story can deliver to the audience. Remember the scene where the guy watches old home movies and remembers his ex, or the scenes taking place in the recording studio. The story starts to feel stretched and dragging after the first half; and I would've preferred a more impulsive feel (like in the song 'Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy') than a movie that looks like the film adaptation of an album. It would've had more room for depth that way.


'Falling Slowly' plays twice in the movie. The first one is the magical scene that I already mentioned. I won't give a spoiler by telling where you hear it the second time, but it's towards the end and in such a context that takes away the whole drowsy feel inherited from the previous songs. It's easier to forgive faults when the finale is powerful enough. That, and when the leading female has a smile that makes you want to be a better person.

8/10