[Music Movie Recommendations] "Once": A Film to Help Your Music Resonate with the World

"Once": A Film to Help Your Music Resonate with the World

To all the amateur musicians out there who are holding onto a passion for music but feeling stuck.
Are you starting to give up, thinking, "I have no talent" or "No one will listen anyway"?
The movie "Once" is a film I want you, of all people, to watch.

This film gives everyone who loves music the "courage to believe in the power of music." It is a story that proves that even without a flashy stage or massive success, real, soul-stirring music has the power to move people's hearts.

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Those who lack confidence in their own music
The protagonist is also an unknown, unremarkable singer-songwriter. However, his music has a heart-wrenching reality to it.

Those who are aiming to go pro but are feeling lost
The film asks what "success" is and what it means to "live through music."

Those who purely love music
Simple guitar and piano, the immersive feel of street performances—the entire film is overflowing with love for music itself.

Those who want to make a fresh start in life
Seeing the protagonist move forward through music from the depths of his life should be the spark that inspires you.

What kind of movie is "Once"?

This film is a story about a man who performs music on the street corners of Dublin and an immigrant woman who meet by chance and support each other through music. While it is a simple story depicting their interaction, it is a moving work that makes you deeply feel the power of music and the bonds between people.

Also, the following can be cited as features of the film:

The leads, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, are actual musicians. The charm lies in the realism that feels like it captured "life" rather than acting.

The soundtrack was even more successful than the film, and the theme song "Falling Slowly" won an Academy Award.

Low budget, unknown actors, no flashy production—yet it became a global hit through word of mouth alone, a work that can be called a miracle in the film industry.

The courage to believe in the power of music, from this film

"Once" is a film that teaches you that "it's okay not to have anything special."
Even so, if you can believe in the passion and the power of music within you, your music will surely reach someone's heart.

To all music lovers who carry doubts and anxieties, may this film be the catalyst for you to take a new step forward.

"Once": The miracle of a music film born from a low budget

The film "Once," released in 2007, was a low-budget independent movie from Ireland that became a massive, globally beloved hit.

Shot in just a few weeks, this work captured the hearts of many viewers with its authentic music and simple yet moving story.

Synopsis: A small miracle that begins on a street corner

The setting is Dublin, the capital of Ireland.

The protagonist is an unremarkable singer-songwriter (Glen Hansard) who plays guitar and sings his own songs on the street. While carrying the weight of past heartbreak and anxiety about the future, he cannot abandon his passion for music and spends his days in solitude.

Appearing before him is a Czech immigrant woman (Markéta Irglová). She loves music and has a talent for playing the piano, but she supports her family by selling flowers to make a living.

Triggered by a chance encounter, the two begin to connect through music. Through street performances and impromptu sessions, they struggle to get closer to their dreams by producing a demo tape. Eventually, they realize the power their music holds.

The story is romantic, but it is not just sweet. It depicts realistic choices and the conflicts each of them faces, leaving behind a somewhat bittersweet aftertaste.

Highlights of the soundtrack

The soundtrack for "Once" achieved even greater success than the film itself, featuring many masterpieces, most notably "Falling Slowly," which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Falling Slowly

Performed in the scene where the two protagonists first connect, this song is a moving number that can be called the symbol of the film. The moment their voices overlap with the simple melody of the guitar and piano is goosebump-inducing.

When Your Mind’s Made Up

A song with an impressive, passionate band performance. It plays during the scene where they are producing their demo tape, conveying the seriousness of their commitment to music.

Say It to Me Now

A song the protagonist sings alone on the street. It is packed with his loneliness and inner cries, serving as a point that draws the audience in immediately during the opening scene.

The entire soundtrack colors the film's story, becoming a masterpiece that brings scenes to mind just by listening to it.

Highlights of the film

1. Realistic acting and music

Since the leads, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, were active musicians in real life, they show us a "natural way of life" rather than just acting. There is no falsehood in the singing or performance scenes, which capture the hearts of the audience.

2. Excellent visual beauty despite a low budget

Shot on a super-low budget of about 150,000 euros, the film's charm lies in its documentary-like visual beauty that captures the streets of Dublin as they are. The simplicity, stripped of unnecessary decoration, further enhances the realism of the story.

3. Human relationships depicted through music

While the relationship between the protagonists is romantic, the story's development, which dares not to rely on romance, is refreshing. The bond between the two, centered on music, delivers kindness and strength to the viewer.

Reviews and buzz at the time

At the time of its release, it was highly acclaimed by many film critics and audiences.

The following points were particularly highly praised:

"It has a simple and pure charm that big-budget films lack" (The New York Times)

"It is rare for a film to have music and story blend so naturally" (The Guardian)

"It is surprising that a low-budget film can move people this much" (BBC)

Word-of-mouth spread, and the film became a massive success, ultimately grossing over $10 million. It continues to be talked about today as a work that demonstrated new possibilities for music films.

A Message to Amateur Musicians

"Once" proved that even without professional equipment or lavish sets, you can move people if you have "authentic music" and a "soul-stirring story."

Your music, too, surely has the power to resonate with someone's heart.

Like this film, please believe in the possibilities that begin on a small street corner or in a session with someone close to you.

"Just start." That is the first step to creating a musical miracle.

↓ Rare footage: The two of them performing a session for the first time in decades

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of The Swell Season surprise fans waiting in the queue, and perform "Falling Slowly" outside The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles before their concert on Sunday, August 27, 2023.

Glen Hansard Solo Album

Author's books on music production, Amazon Kindle