Once

My thoughts in general: John Carney wrote and directed Once, which is the story of the relationship of two musicians. This film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song "Falling Slowly." The film was shot in Ireland on a small budget. I really enjoyed the film. It was simply done and was not overly dramatic or cheesy. I also liked how the film did not have a typical "love conquers all" mentality. It was a very accessible story that did not follow typical conventions that are perpetuated in Hollywood genre films. It has been called a modern musical, and it was interesting to see the role that music played in the film. The music was essentially a character in the film, and it, too, was simple and really reflected the tone of the film. It was a well-crafted film that was quite enjoyable.


My thoughts on application: I think this film is a good example of how a quality film does not need a big budget. It is a good example of how a film can simply convey a story without relying on star actors. It's use of music is an especially appealing aspect to study. It does not use melodramatic underscoring to tell the audience how to feel. Instead, like I wrote above, the music is more like a character who plays an integral role in the story. This would be an interesting discussion in a classroom. An assignment may even be given to make a video that tells a simple story in the style of this low budget film.