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Videos Falling Slowly Falling Slowly (The Frames version) If You Want Me When Your Mind's Made Up There are movies that friends tell you about, and if those friends are forceful enough or more people make the same recommendation, you rouse yourself and buy a ticket, and if the movie turns out to be terrific, the next thing you know you're telling everyone about a film they just have to see. This is called “buzz,” and it's a very good thing indeed --- media companies hire consultants, often for impressive sums, to create that initial spark. But “Once” starred Glen Hansard, lead singer of a terrific Irish band --- The Frames --- that's sadly unappreciated outside of Ireland. His co-star was Markéta Irglová, a 17-year-old Czech high school student who had never acted before. And it was filmed, in 17 days, for $150,000. For the longest time, the future of “Once” looked bleak: straight to DVD. Then the film was invited to Sundance. It won the Audience Award. Fox Searchlight bought it. And as “Once” went out into the world, audiences took to it like a beautiful orphan --- they cherished it and made it a cause. That's how I came to see it; many people prodded me. What they knew: I'm a sucker for emotion that feels authentic --- remember After the Wedding --- and so I was absolutely enchanted by this little film. And I do mean little. He's a singer. His girlfriend has left him. He'd like to make a record and get out of Dublin. Right now, he repairs vacuum cleaners and sings on the streets. Her situation's just as dim. She may dream of music, but she's in an alien culture, separated from her husband; she sells flowers and cleans houses to support her kid and mother. He and She (they are nameless) get together to make music; they become collaborators and friends, their songs propelling the plot (shades of Love Me Tonight). But the big question --- for the audience, anyway --- isn't how their demo tape will be received. It's whether they'll become lovers. “Two people, a few instruments, 88 minutes and not a single false note,” A.O. Scott wrote in The New York Times. And what people! At the start of the movie, Markéta Irglová seemed like her character: a young woman of modest charms and uncertain talent. By the end, I was convinced she was the most beautiful woman in the world, a great talent and a deep soul. Love? I was besotted. And Glen Hansard was the ultimate admirable guy: smart, resourceful, realistic, emotionally aware. And what music! Hansard started strumming his guitar, and I got weepy. Then he started singing, slow as a nursery lullaby: I...don't...know....you But...I....want...you All...the...more...for...that Words...fall...through...me And...always...fool...me There are, I think, only two responses to feelings this directly expressed: cynicism and acceptance. Friends, this cynic was overcome: I blubbered. And I wasn't the only one. You may have heard some of the soundtrack; it pops up on better radio stations. If it's considerably more “professional” than the film, there are reasons. Some of the songs were among the greater hits of The Frames. Hansard and Irglová had recorded a CD together. And the film's director, John Carney, was savvy about music --- he had once played bass in The Frames. Though this is music like no other --- not folk, not rock, mostly just two people literally singing their hearts out --- it's not just for emotional slobs like me. You can listen to it as you work. You can play it at dinner. It's great for a quiet evening. And, if you must, you can cry --- for happy. --- Jesse Kornbluth, for HeadButler.com To buy the soundtrack of “Once” from Amazon.com, click here. To buy “The Swell Season” (by Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard) from Amazon.com, click here. To buy “The Cost” (by The Frames) from Amazon.com, click here. To buy “Fitzcaraldo” (by The Frames) from Amazon.com, click here. To watch the preview of “Once,” click here. Copyright 2007 by Head Butler Inc. |
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