Sitting on my desktop at the moment are photographs from two amazing events which happened within days of each other. And this was one of them. The Irish independent feature film ONCE has won universal acclaim and is about to be released in the UK. Directed by John Carney and starring Frames frontman Glen Hansard and Czech singer/songwriter Marketa Irglova, the story is set in Dublin and tells the simple, bittersweet story of a busker and a girl he meets.

I was invited to the preview of the film at the wonderful The Picture House, located in the musical and club heart of Liverpool. Following the showing of the film Hansard and Irglova would be answering questions and performing songs from the film. Armed with my trusty Canon, myself and my associate, JJ, grabbed seats right at the front of intimate auditorium so I could grab some decent pictures of the two stars. But before that was our chance to see the film that cost £80,000 to make and has grossed over $9 million so far in the USA. Hansard started his career, like many other Irish singer/songwriters, busking on the city centre streets of Dublin and that is where the film starts. It’s a natural and an opening which I suspect is pretty close to reality. You’ll see what I mean when you view the film. Pretty soon the character played by Irglova appears on the scene and the simple, moving story begins. The film is shot using mostly hand-held cams that provide a distinctive, natural look and feel. Throughout the film the acting performances are also natural and instinctive, without the baggage of formality that seems to follow extensive training and experience.

It’s a boy meets girl; both with romantic history that won’t quite go away; boy loses girl and in-between some of the most moving and beautiful music that you will ever see on screen. I had the strong feeling that Hansard was telling his own story, compressed in time, incorporating his own personal experiences on the streets, at home (working with his father) and in the recording studio, which leads me to believe that there is still a conclusion to the story waiting in the wings… Some of the songs come from the 2006 album collaboration between Hansard and Irglova which won the accolade of Shakenstir ‘album of the year.’ The album is called THE SWELL SEASON and is one of the most intensely emotional albums I have ever heard.

The film ended with a massive ovation from the crowd that intensified when the two stars appeared on stage to answer questions. And the questions rained down for the next hour until it was time for the actors/musicians to prove their musical prowess with acoustic performances (that will remain with the audience for a long time to come). Hansard played the battered acoustic guitar that featured in the film and is used in all his live shows with the Frames. At one point Irglova whispered something coyly in Hansard’s ear that resulted in her taking the guitar and performing her beautiful composition from the film (played on piano) called ‘The Hill. Hansard and Irglova also performed ‘If You Want Me’ and ‘Falling Slowly’, while Hansard’s solo performance of ‘Say It To Me Now’ was devastating.

It was a very special and memorable night for me, and for Hansard a significant landmark in his seventeen-year career. Following more preview sessions in other UK cities, Hansard, Irglova and the Frames are undertaking the sell-out SWELL SEASON tour in the States. Here’s hoping that they will all return to our shores with the show. I can’t wait. My simple message to you is go see this film; it will move and inspire you.

5/5