Once on DVD

Every time, an independent movie becomes famous, the critics talk about a miracle. Is it so in the case of Once? Let’s have a look into. Once is a 2006 Irish musical film written and directed by John Carney. Set in Dublin, it stars musicians Glen Hansard (of popular Irish rock band The Frames) and Markéta Irglová, a fictional Czech emigrant, as struggling musicians.

Irglova’s Czech character stays at the “wild east” definition, I mean the way western film makers see us, and probably always will. One example for all – she is dressed like a Bulgarian beggar from 19th century. But her screen performance is just sweet. The same way we can talk about Hansard – every time he looks, sings, talks, he is just sweet. But the film doesn’t stand on acting – it stands and falls with music, which is just great.

I would recommend the film for all those who are tired by movies, which will put you into a never ending spiral, or that which will make you feel guilty, or simply those genre simplifications – Once is a clean, sweet and poetic movie, that doesn’t pretend anything. I shouldn’t say it here, but it is also nice to see a Czech actress in other than an ‘adult’ movie.