Once

I skip the page...

Open my notebook and start watching “Once” a brief moment in the lives of two people, searching for satisfaction .With the inherent lacuna and suffering in their life thirsty to feel the droplets from the fountain of happiness. This romantic yet soft chemistry between Allan Hansard and Markéta Irglová creates some of the most beautiful images that can be painted on the reel .

The initial ice breaking jam session was among some of the most mellifluous mingling of guitar and piano laced with vocals producing “Falling Slowly”;the scene depicts Allan deeply engrossed in the music ,slamming guitar riffs and Markéta follows; looking at him with a deft smile that squints from the corner of her lips to be in tune as she plays the piano.

As they talk ;and start getting acquainted;Markéta asks Hansard about his lost love ; he conveys his inner broken heart through the chords of the guitar and some swear spiced rock snippets. What’s lovely is the conversations between Hansard an Irish lad and Markéta a simple girl with a Czech accent that just creates one of those multi cultural cocktails we so love to hear and watch .

Markéta behaves with curiosity yet maturity when it deals with family ,though she has an inherent inclination for music which comes apart when this passion prompts her to create music
,late night by breaking her child’s piggybank for buying batteries to fuel the cd player to hear the tune created by Allan ;creating a soft rhapsody that rises up from the dark with her singing “If you want me “ with tune to the music coming inside her ears a lyrical extempore.

The song “Lies” with flashbacks of Hansard’s lost love ,is a touching realization of his deep-seated pains in a musical way .The pictures of joy ,love and romance flash back in a grainy palette ,as the songs states “you are moving so fast forward” ...Hansard’s desperate to hold on to her but to his utter dismay can't .

The films reveals some great Irish outskirts with a romantic scenic background,a vintage motorbike,the scene near the backdrop of the mountain and the ocean simmering right down there feet ...Hansard asks do you love your husband and its Czech translation ,Markéta says "Miluješ ho?" and answers in "Miluju Tebe".. not translating it back for him .

The array of jam sessions and recording just generates a collection of great rock ballads...The music flurring in the background with simple clips of joy with family,friends and the band.

The dark scene with both of them seated near the piano,with marketa playing “The Hill” that she wrote about her life and husband,cries Hansard's shoulders;he urges her to come with him to London,and she says "can I bring my mum"

Hansard leaves for London,gifts her a piano ...

And with "Once" in his memory ,laden with a deft smile leaves for London, with the background score “Falling Slowly” strumming up the pieces of “Once” ;and striking all the right emotional chords.