Once (2006) (SIFF) - A+

"Once" is an unusual modern musical, starring real life musicians Glen Hansard (of the Irish band "The Frames") and Marketa Iglova. They play an unnamed guy and girl who meet on the streets of Dublin. He's a street musician who happens to work in his dad's Hoover repair shop, and she wanders by one day dragging her broken vacuum cleaner and is taken in by his music. They have an immediate connection, and a refreshingly different relationship forms. There are definitely sparks between the two, but she is married (although her husband is still in her native Czech Republic) and he still pines for the girl who left for London. They form such a strong musical connection that they decide to record a demo tape together, and they pour their emotions into the songs they work on together.

Now, normally the description "musical" would mean that the characters would sing at times when no one would sing in real life, including lines that are clearly normal talk. "Once" isn't a musical in that way. When the characters sing, it is because they are playing music together, and they talk when people normally talk. I call it a musical, though, because much of the story is told in the songs that the two sing together or to each other. This odd structure works surprisingly well. The two leads are novices to movie acting, but they remain believable on screen because so much of the story is told through the music. If you like smart, folksy rock like I do, you'll love the soundtrack, and it is extremely successful in conveying the story and emotions of the characters.

In addition to the unique story telling technique, I also feel that the script of "Once" really sets it apart. The relationship between the guy and girl is so refreshingly complicated and different from what you usually see in a movie romance (I even really hesitate to call it a romance since it is so different), that it really stands out in your mind afterwards. The script is full of wonderful little touches in how the two relate to each other, and I loved the ending, which is completely un-Hollywood, and manages to be open-ended and ambiguous while still being completely emotionally satisfying.

Final Grade: A+