The Swell Season

After toiling in obscurity (“17 years of 40 people”), Irish musician Glen Hansard—who became a busker at the age of 13 and dropped out of school—suddenly rocketed to fame, winning an Oscar for the song “Falling Slowly,” which he co-wrote with his decade-younger girlfriend, Czech singer Markéta Irglová, for their indie autobiographical 2006 film Once. In this intimate profile from filmmakers Nick August-Perna, Chris Dapkins, and Carlo Mirabella-Davis, viewers go behind-the-scenes, following romantic couple Hansard and Irglová on tour as they perform with a backup band as The Swell Season. Although Once was a charming love story, only the most dewy-eyed fan could watch this portrait and not see the duo's relationship careening towards the rocks thanks to a familiar combination of fame-related stress, copious liquor, and the surefire bad formula of an older man trying to control a younger, independent woman. Since neither Hansard nor Irglová are overwhelmingly charismatic (a long, tedious, slow-burn argument outside a café near film's end seems to signal the ensuing break-up), the highlights here are mostly musical, as the furiously guitar-strumming Hansard and reserved Irglová play favorites including “When Your Mind's Made Up” and “Leave.” Also memorable are the brief scenes with Hansard's mom, who is rightfully proud of her son's Oscar. Although we are left with the notion that the relationship ended on an amiable note and the pair would continue to work together musically, both are now releasing solo albums and touring individually. DVD extras include deleted scenes. A strong optional purchase. (R. Pitman)