AWESOME! i have goosebumps at 8am! we actually DID come out of our chairs when they won the oscar! the movie touched me so much that i felt like they were my friends up on stage, nervously but excellently singing their song in front of millions, and then accepting our praise of their story and music. chris and i are all but obsessed with the soundtrack!

SPOILER* AVERT THINE EYES IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE.
My new sis-in-law speaks Czech. Marketa’s character’s uninterpreted cliffside confession: “No, but I love you.”
She told me that that is what she said after I had seen the movie twice. I guess I should have known, but it still effected how I thought about the story. Feel free to remove this post if you feel like it would ruin the movie for those who haven’t seen it, but I thought that was cool.

That was the about the only awards ceremony I’ve seen where I actually cared who won.

I caught this video lat one night on Vh1’s insomniac show and it literally stopped me dead in my tracks. I was in the process of getting in my bed after playing a show one weekend and I literally froze in mid air when I heard them hit that falcetto harmony on “tiiimmmmeee” and it wouldn’t let me go until the song was over. It was a great moment and I’m extremely happy to have unexpectedly found out where it came from. Even more happy to find out that said source is a highly recommended independent Irish film. This has been a good day.

Brilliant movie, even more brilliant song. I love the ending…so right, so un-Hollywood, but the music of this film was brilliant. And classy move by Stewart to invite her back out. I love that Glen Hansard described the song as “You are at a party with your girlfriend, and she leaves to go get a drink, so you are standing there. Across the room your eyes stops on this girl who is just beautiful; she is the woman of your dreams, you can tell you were just meant for each other. She starts walking across the room towards you and then you realize, “That is my girlfriend.” So this song describes that feeling”… that is great

This movie was hyped to me alot, which usually means I won’t like it. But in spite of all that, I loved this movie too. Perhaps because there is no hype whatsoever in the movie. It’s kind of a like a quiet meditations (with a lot of “f” words Once had me with the opening scene of Glen playing alone on a street corner. When he dug into that guitar and sang his “barbaric yawp” (to quote the Dead Poet’s Society) I was in for wherever else they wanted to take me.

I thought the movie had a very beautiful morality to it, too. I’ll try to not give too much away, but I loved the ending, especially the scene where you see the husband and he appears to be relatively loving and tender. The voice of the girlfriend in London, too, is sweet. Difficult to demonize either of them. There is a delightful lack of stereotypical caricatures in the movie, all the characters have complexities and vacillating motives that make them believable. I guess what I mean is that I didn’t feel manipulated by the end of the movie.

And for musicians! This movie documents some of the delightful details of what we do - like them have to give the record a road test with the crappy car speakers. That’s so how it is…

Great music, charming actors, a real human story. I loved it. Thought about it for days afterwards.

Linda, I’m with you. That was a great scene. Some really rich long camera shots in this movie. Reading this reminds me that I want to buy the CD.

I know we usually all like to agree agee agree. I have written on some posts and have agreed a lot. I am a huge AP fan and that is actually why I am even in the Rabbit Room and why I am even writing now. If it were someone else I probably would just keep scrolling, but I don’t think I should. I will start with something we all will agree on- The song “Falling Slowly” is amazing, simple and beautiful. I love it!
Now to something else…I did not watch the movie, but as I read AP’s post I was surprised about the so called language “hurdle”. So, I checked it out for myself. I just don’t think a 90 min. movie that contains 39 “f” words could be recommendable or beneficial. The concept or message of this movie, however good, does not/ cannot trump biblical truth and purity. Why is it ok to watch or listen to something that is certainly unbiblical? I disagree that this is only a cultural issue, it is an biblical/ edification issue.
I am sorry to rain of the parade of praise for “Once” but maybe thats what the RR needs, more discussion. I love the RR and hope to continue to be encouraged by it. I am thankful to AP for his heart and his music I have been blessed by both.
Please hear my heart.

I am I alone in this Room on this issue?

Marc. I agree with you.
I had the same discussion with someone telling me that Pulp Fiction was a good movie; I’ve seen it, no it isn’t. That was the 1st movie when I started turning things off and walking away from media that hurts my ears. Just having a mental filter wasn’t sufficient for me. I can no longer pretend I didn’t hear it, or won’t remember it. Thinking it is a short step from saying it.

I haven’t seen Once, so I cannot comment on it. Hearing the f-bomb caveat I doubt it will enter my house. I think there is some cultural aspect to british/irish language but it is not a blanket approval. I loved Waking Ned Devine and don’t remember any f-bomb issues.

In my former days f-bombs would be no problem (actually sought) but I’m a new creation. This is one of the easiest areas for me to trip, so I flee from it (or at least try). I struggle enough working in a machine shop environment and not letting it creep in during those times. From past efforts/experience, I can usually walk the line of fitting in at work and not letting it show up at home. Never the two shall meet. In truth, I end up lying in one environment or the other; evil is a subtle creeping pressure that is happy with believers taking the stradling compromise position. I am probably hyper-sensitive to this since it’s a battleground for me.

Sorry to chase a rabbit on a trail off the main path. But this is the Rabbit Room. Once might be a catalyst for a whole new discussion on appropriate media/entertainment.

Dan, Marc; you raise some good questions.

I come from the position of absolutely loving Once. I’m a writer and musician, and I was so engaged by the passion and the beauty with which Hansard and Irglova sang and played, and the simplicity of the plot … I loved it.

In college, I did a book study on “The Idea of a Christian College” by Arthur Holmes (I know, it sounds thrilling, right? Ha — I promise it was good.) He discusses in great detail the idea that Christians have nothing to fear from being truly educated, and from learning as much as possible about the world around us. He discusses the idea that “all truth is God’s truth, wherever it is found,” meaning, glimpses of the eternal can be seen in things that have nothing to do with church, with being “Christian,” etc., yet Christians can still glean and grow and learn incredibly valuable things through them (i.e., literature, science, the arts, etc.) I realize that this could be a potentially slippery slope of justification for studying overtly immoral things; and thus, it requires true discretion and responsibility. Somehow though, I resonate with that statement, that I can find truths about God and His heart when I’m reading about physics, or when I’m reading ancient Greek literature, or studying English, listening to a symphony, going running, or watching Once. I love that I have the freedom in Christ to take pieces of art and view them critically, through the lenses of truth. I love that I can glean valuable insights into the beauty, creativity, and passion of God by seeing it reflected in the people He’s created; even if their work isn’t overtly “Christian” in nature.

I realize that Holmes’ speaks mostly to the academic process, but I think a lot of his insights are translatable to life as a whole. I think there’s such a beautiful, challenging responsibility in being a follower of Jesus. A responsibility to be truly alive. A responsibility to be unafraid of listening, unafraid of thinking about the world around me, and about the art created by those living here. And yet, at the same time, this grave responsibility to compare and contrast what I see to the unchanging, eternal truths of Jesus Christ and the redemption that He brings; and ultimately, the responsibility to love Him and glorify Him through the way I live.

I’m not entirely sure what it looks like to do these two at the same time, and to live in a manner “worthy of the calling we have received.” I’m not sure how to do this and be continually above reproach. I still have a lot of questions about it, and I’d love to hear more of everyone’s thoughts and ideas on the matter – it’s certainly a complex issue, and there are roughly a billion ways to approach and think about it.

But yes, overall, I think it’s a beautiful movie, and despite its many imperfections, I think it provides a beautiful picture of the haunting power of a song, a melody, a lyric. I think there’s much to appreciate.

Oh why not join in the conversation. I really find this a tough subject, too. I love the fact that liberty encompasses allowing us “meat sacrificed to idols” and allows us to avoid meat altogether. Here’s my personal take on cussing, and I’d love to hear smart people discuss it. Swearing is a sin, flat out. We cannot and must not take God;s name in vain. Cussing is socially poor taste. So, I don’t have nearly as much problem with someone cussing. But when it comes to reading and viewing, how does that fit in with whatever is true, beautiful, virtuous, etc? Can a character who is drawn and played truthfully and with great beauty still be so if he uses language that is true to his character? Ug. Couldn’t we just not think about this and let someone come up with nice pre-approved Christian things for us to watch and read? Why do I come up with a difference between “Once” and “No Country for Old Men”, niether of which I have seen? “Once” I would gladly see bad words and all becuase it tells an uplifting story that will make me happy. No COuntry I won’t see becuase I can’t imagine how anything wickedly violent could be worth my time. But that is more down to how I feel about it, and not how I think God thinks about it. Ew. my brain hurts now. I’m going to go listen to a Gaither Homecoming album and watch the Crystal Cathedral.

[...] started with a thread where Andrew Peterson recommended the movie Once, but warned of “the F-bomb” being used 30 or so times. After that comment thread got [...]

Barliman,

My wife purchased “Once” (cheaper than a rental) as a way to connect with the young worship leader types at our church. She works with them on projects that involve the arts academy she directs. They all raved about the film in a similar fashion to some of the comments here. We watched it last week-end for the second time picking up at the point where she fell asleep the week-end before. I too fell in and out of sleep during the first run but watched through to the end.

In reading through the posts, the singer/song writers and just plain writers seem to dig this movie. I can see the charm of it, the “look at the creative process” feel of it and find the music has a haunting quality to it.

They intended for it to be a musical. For the most part it is, but as was noted above, it kind of veers off into music video territory. The acting is a bit sloppy, but when you hear in the commentary that they intentionally went low-budget, that the “script” essentially consisted of bullet points, and the primary actors are not actors by trade but, musicians that can somewhat act (instead of the other way ‘round) well, that explains it.

As for the language, that was comical and it does mar the overall production value of the film. Particularly odd is use of the dreaded F-word by Marketa (just “Girl” in the movie credits); especially her use of it in reference to the batteries. By the way Barliman, she’s not Irish, so is the Czech Republic also a vulgar place?

I think the foul language is gratuitous in this film. Watch the commentaries on the DVD. There is no real swearing in those. The “making of” “featurette” makes it clear that most of the dialogue was improvised.
It just seemed over the top to me. Like teenagers playing with their dad’s video equipment. Here’s how it probably went on set:

Glen: “Hey, how about a song where I use the F-word a lot?!”
Director: “Yeah! Cool man!”
Glen: “Just making some great f-ing art!”
Director: “Cool.”

“Cool”, though not vulgar, is another overused word in the film. In the sequel, “Twice”, it will be replaced by “dude.”

The scene with the “F-word song” is completed with a little old lady giving “Boy” (Hansard’s name in the film) a dirty look (She posts in the Rabbit Room too when she sees any naughty bits). She’s obviously not truly Irish or even Czech, probably a Republican. Even the father of “Boy” let’s off an F-bomb as he’s listening to the demo. Again, you can hear the sophomoric chuckles on the set: “Coooool granddad!”

All in all this is a good movie, but not a great one. Really, its not the foul language that did it for me, but the pacing. The low-budget feel (which they intended) just comes off as clunky. I loved how “Girl” and “Boy” interacted. The vacuum cleaner she drags around is a priceless touch as is her composing the song while walking the street in her p.js’s and bunny (lamb?) slippers. But, I didn’t get enough of those moments of whimsy to think they were sincere and not just gimmicks. Okay, I also liked the song where she used her daughter’s toy piano. That too was whimsical and probably my favorite song in the movie.

I do think there is a great morality to the story (as Jason noted) in spite of the sophomoric dialogue. The story thread from start to finish holds together. Here are two people who push each other to do the right thing. With a real script, I think this could have been a great movie.

I’m revisiting this post because it was my first introduction to the group now known as The Swell Season, which my wife and I enjoyed from the fourth row The Ryman Auditorium last night.

I could gush for days about how beautiful and seemingly effortless was the music that filled the room, but for that purpose you would be better served by watching Once again or listening to Strict Joy (especially “The Deluxe Edition”).

What I want to observe instead is the tragedy of one being “not far from the kingdom.” Glen played and the crowd sang along beautifully. He was obviously enjoying the unified voice singing a beautiful melody, and this prompted him to joke that he was “feelin’ the presence of the lord.”

There is a sense, I think, in which that statement which he made in jest is much more true than he can imagine. He was certainly enjoying music–a creation of Christ. How unfortunate that a man should dismiss the creator and worship the creation.

Still, he was right. The music was beautiful. Blessed be the Creator of music and all good things.