Falling Slowly

[lirazel]

If you haven’t seen the movie Once yet and it’s playing anywhere near you, drop what you’re doing and go see it immediately.  I promise you your life will be better once you have. 

This is one of the most beautiful, true, fragile movies I’ve seen in years.  It's the least "Hollywood" of any film I've seen in a very long time--this film could never have been made in America.  It was made for something like $100,000 in 17 days in Dublin, starring Glen Hansard of The Frames and Marketa Irglova, a Czech singer, and directed and written by John Carney.

We never learn the names of either of their characters—in the credits, they’re just called “Guy” and “Girl”—but the Guy is a busker on a street corner and the Girl stops by to talk about his music one day.  

Basically, this movie is about them making beautiful music together.  I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a movie that wasn’t technically a musical that integrates music as beautifully as this one does—all the music is part of the plot and the characters and the mood, and it’s all gorgeous.  The first thing I did when I got home from the theater was order the soundtrack.

I’d heard the film called “Before Sunrise with Music,” which is actually the reason that I decided to see it (that and the lovely review “Salon” gave it).  And that isn’t a bad description, actually.  Just like Linklater’s films, nothing technically happens and the focus of the movie is these two characters.  But unlike Sunrise, there’s a harsher edge of reality about this film that arises from these characters’ social class.  These people are what most of us in North America would most definitely call “poor,” and they often have to make sacrifices for the things they need, just like real people.  But Carney doesn’t milk those moments and make them about poverty.  This movie is about music and two people who make it together.

I love this movie.  I love every single delicate moment of it.  I love the way I felt as though if I breathed on it, it would shatter--but it never did.  I love the music and the characters and the way it made me feel.

It reminded me why I love life.

Comments

[granola-bean.livejournal.com]

I just saw it last week. Isn;t it fabulous. Iam desperate to see it again. Every detail in this movie was perfect. I haven't stopped listenign to the soundtrack yet (its been 72 hours.) Oh gosh, just thinking about it makes me happy.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I'm so very, very glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. As soon as I see Harry Potter, the next movie I'll be seeing is this one again. It's just so, so beautiful, for all the reasons you alluded to.

I've been listening to the music on youtube--there are all these lives performances by the two of them--but I can't wait for my soundtrack to get here!

[granola-bean.livejournal.com]

When are you seeing HP? I wish I could send all my friends to see once. You knw you tell people to go see it but you can;t make them...Oh, and of course I love your icon.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I have no idea when I'm seeing it. I was supposed to see it at midnight, but that fell through, and I'm in class or at work till six every day, plus huge amounts of outside reading for that class so I can be caught up, and Wednesday night is church...so it'll probably be Thursday night before I can see it. Maybe. If that doesn't work, I won't be able to see it Friday night cuz I already have something scheduled, so it'll be Saturday afternoon, I guess. Stinks.

Thanks! I searched very hard to find that icon.

[granola-bean.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about the working stuff.

Where do you find icons?

Oh, and if you don;t mind me asking, what college are you at?

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Eh. It's okay. Work's necessary. And it might enable me to do another study abroad program next summer, this time to London.

As for icons, I pretty much just type in whatever it is I'm looking for under "interests" and usually there's a group dedicated to it. Then I spend much too much time combing through those communities looking for icons. It's addictive.

I go to a small, private Christian university I'm pretty sure you've never heard of. It's got really great programs, though, especially English--all of our teachers are incredible!

[granola-bean.livejournal.com]

Milligan? I'm only asking because I applied there. Thanks for the tip on the icons. I hope you that summer program, good luck

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

No, I'm not familiar with that one. You're welcome, and thank you!

[granola-bean.livejournal.com]

ooo pretty unicorn

[shamoogity.livejournal.com]

This was exactly my reaction, except stated more eloquently. I'm going to friend you if you don't mind. No pressure to friend me back if you're someone who likes to keep your friendslist short. It's just that from what I can tell, we have quite a few common interests and you're a great writer.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Like I said, I just felt so much for this movie.

And thanks for friending me! That's fine with me, and I'll friend you back, as well. It's always nice to find people with common interests!

Oh, and by the way, your icon is hilarious!