"Once"... in Ireland!

A few days ago i watched "Once" (2006) and that brought me memories from my trip to Ireland a year ago. Since, i didn't had a blog back then, i think that this is the appropriate time to share with you my experience and, at the same time, recommend "Once" as one of my latest "must-to-be-seen" movies.

me & my brother at St. Stephen's Green Park

As you already understood, i made this trip with my beloved little brother (well, not that "little", but i like call him like this!). An in order to meet his "second" character have a look at the follow picture, which is just adorable - at least from my point of view!

Vagelis eating "evil" chicken-wings @ "Elephant Castle" restaurant

"Once" is a 2006 Irish (a kind of musical) film written and directed by John Carney. Set in Dublin, this naturalistic drama stars musicians Glen Hansard (of popular Irish folk rock band "The Frames") and Marketa  Irglová as musicians. Collaborators prior to making the film, Hansard and Irglová composed and performed all of the original songs in the movie.

Shot for only €130,000 the film was more than successful. It received enthusiastic reviews and awards such as the 2007 Independent Spirit Award for best foreign film. Hansard and Irglová's song "Falling Slowlly" received a 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song and the soundtrack as a whole also received a Grammy nomination.

Once spent years in development with the Irish Film Board. It was during a period where the film board had no chief executive (for about 6 months) that the film was given the go-ahead by a lower level executive on the proviso that the producers could make it on a budget of approximately 150,000 euros and not the initial higher budget.

Neither of the two leads was a trained or experienced actor; Hansard and Irglová are both professional musicians. Director Carney, former bassist for Hansard's band "The Frames", had asked his long-time friend to share busker anecdotes and compose songs for the film, but had intended the male lead to be played by actor Cillian Murphy, who was an almost-signed rock musician before turning to acting. Murphy was also going to be one of the film's producers. But Murphy declined the prospect of acting opposite non-actor Irglová (then 17 years old!) and also felt that he hadn't the vocal capabilities to belt out Hansard's octave-leaping songs, so he pulled out, as did the film's other producers along with their financial resources. 

me @ St. Stephen's Green Park

Produced with a shoestring budget, about 75% of the budget was funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann (The Irish Film Board), plus some of Carney's own money. The director gave his salary to the two stars, and promised a share of the back-end for everyone if the film was a success. Shot with a skeleton crew on a 17-day shoot, the filmmakers saved money by using natural light and shooting at friends' houses. The musical party scene was filmed in Hansard's own flat, with his personal friends playing the partygoers/musicians - his mother, Catherine Hansard, is briefly featured singing solo. The Dublin street scenes were recorded without permits and with a long lens so that many passersby didn't even realize that a film was being made. The long lens also helped the non-professional actors relax and forget about the camera, and some of the dialogue ended up being improvised. During the shoot, Carney had predicted a romance. Hansard and Irglová did become a couple in real life, getting together while on a promotional tour across North America, and living together in Dublin, in Hansard's flat. Subsequently, Hansard indicated that that they were no longer a romantic couple. He said, "Of course, we fell into each other's arms. It was a very necessary part of our friendship but I think we both concluded that that wasn't what we really wanted to do. So we're not together now. We are just really good friends."

I am not going to tell you anything about the plot of the movie! I already gave you the trailer and a lot of "trivia" stuff, in order to persuade you to watch this film. Of course, i didn't make a whole trip to Ireland because of "Once"! No, there is nothing wrong with this movie; actually, another Ireland-related movie made pay a visit to that wonderful place. I am referring to the ultimate love story "P.S. i love you". Don't freak out, i will not tell you the story, in order to avoid making you cry. I will only share with you a few more wonderful pictures!

Northern Ireland: Rope Bribge, Carrick-a-Rede

me @ the Rope Bridge, Carrick-a-Rede

me @ the Giant's Causeway

The Cliffs of Moher

Galway Bay

And because this post is also related to the wonderful Irish music, i am a kind of obliged to post the following song, which title is based on the above photo. This for you "P.S. i live you" funs!

An of course, i visited Wicklow Mountains and walked through that huge national park that Holy (Hilary Swank) got lost and met Gerry (Gerard Butler). Did you also know that at the same park was Braveheart's battleground? Actually, "Braveheart" refers to William Wallace, a 13th century Scottish Knight who gained recognition when he came to the forefront of the First War of Scottish Independence, and despite the fact that the crew spent six weeks shooting on location in Scotland, the major battle scenes were shot in Ireland using members of the Irish Army Reserve as extras. 

Still from "Braveheart" (1995), starring Mel Gibson.

I also visited "Kilmainham Gaol"; a former prison, located in Kilmainham in Dublin, which is now a museum. It has been run since the mid-1980s by the Office of Public Works (O.P.W.), an Irish Goverment agency. Kilmainham Gaol played an important part in Irish history, as many leaders of Irish rebellions were imprisoned and some executed in the prison by the British and latterly in 1923 by the Irish Free State. "In the Name of my Father" (1993) and "The Italian Job" (1969) are only 2 of the 9 movies that filmed in this particular prison.

Still from "In the Name of my Father" (1993), starring Daniel Day Lewis.

Still from "The Italian Job" (1969)