racing against sunbeams

The characters don’t even have names. He is “Guy.” She is “Girl.” But you don’t have to know their names to remember “Once.” It is easily one of the most beautiful movies I’ve ever seen, and perhaps the most unforgettable.

Guy, a musician, is a bitter mess after his break-up with his long-time girlfriend. Enter Girl, about a decade his junior, who is very appreciative of the raw sound of his music. Her innocent yet provocative questions strike a chord within him; and even though at first he tries to brush her aside, he realizes that they have something very real in common: their loneliness, and their deep love for music.

They forge a friendship full of beautiful songs and brief but soulful conversations. As it turns out, Girl, despite her cheerfulness, has some baggage of her own: she has a kid, but she is not in good terms with the father.

What happens next is not surprising, given their bond: they fall in love, although they never tell each other about it (she does at one point, but in a language he couldn’t understand). In the end, however, both accept that they have their own lives to lead. They part ways, but not without leaving each other the unforgettable experience of having loved the way they did…once.

Below is the first song they played together, “Falling Slowly.” Lyrics follow.

I don’t know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can’t react

And games that never amount
To more than they’re meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You’ll make it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black

You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It’s time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You’ve made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I’ll sing along