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Amazon.co.uk Review
Winner of the World Audience Award at Sundance, Once starts out as a small-scale romance, like Before Sunrise, before arriving somewhere unexpected. An Irish busker (Glen Hansard, the Frames and The Commitments) meets a Czech flower seller (Markéta Irglová) while singing on the streets of Dublin. (In the credits, they're listed as Guy and Girl.) She likes what she hears and lets him know. Turns out she's a musician, too. They work on a few songs together and a friendship is forged. She lives with her widowed mother, who doesn't speak English. He lives with his widowed father, who owns a repair shop. Since he broke up with his girlfriend, the guy has been drifting, unable and unwilling to get his life in order. The girl encourages him to pursue a record deal, and the guy emerges from his funk. Then he makes a move on the girl, who rejects his advances. He's confused, but as he comes to find, there's a reason she’s keeping her distance. Though Once is filled with appealing folk-pop by Hansard and Irglová (released on CD as The Swell Season), the movie isn't a traditional musical, but rather a more optimistic Brief Encounter. Filmmaker John Carney, Hansard's former bandmate, captures the real city--in all its affluence and poverty--rather than the picture postcard version. His beautifully shot film serves as a heartfelt ballad about all the underclass Guys and Girls swept aside amidst Ireland's economic miracle. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 64 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw the trailer for this on the internet, and liked the idea immediately: busker boy meets girl and they make beautiful music together. Conscious that this wasn't perhaps the first time that this storyline had been used, I wondered how they'd fare at steering past the obvious cliches, but I'd never have imagined they could be so wildly successful.
The hand-held camera makes you feel like you're watching a couple in the street, but they're so believable in their roles that you never suspect them of just acting. This is hard to do without some of the more obvious trappings of film, but it's totally compelling - just watch the subtle way Glen Hansard's character tries to master his confusion when he meets the girl's family in her bedsit. Or the way in which he teaches her his first song, which has to be the most accurate portrayal of this kind of scene I've ever seen. Or the final scene with his father, which appears to sum up the depths of a complex relationship with just a few lines.
Much of the film is given over to a careful attention on the music, with a generosity that's repayed many times over - there's a central, unbroken shot of her walking back from the corner shop late at night quietly singing to herself that seems to take a long time, but you realise that's just how it should be. To be sure, the instinct for avoiding cliche slips up sometimes: I wasn't surprised at the speed with which the recording engineer went from being cynical to impressed (though I was a bit surprised that the first song the busker decided to lay down was in 5/4, which is hard to dance to, at least).
But, especially considering the contrast with the previous film I saw Glen Hansard in (the disappointing Commitments, which had great music but lousy acting), I don't think I've seen such a beautiful piece of work for a very long time.
The hand-held camera makes you feel like you're watching a couple in the street, but they're so believable in their roles that you never suspect them of just acting. This is hard to do without some of the more obvious trappings of film, but it's totally compelling - just watch the subtle way Glen Hansard's character tries to master his confusion when he meets the girl's family in her bedsit. Or the way in which he teaches her his first song, which has to be the most accurate portrayal of this kind of scene I've ever seen. Or the final scene with his father, which appears to sum up the depths of a complex relationship with just a few lines.
Much of the film is given over to a careful attention on the music, with a generosity that's repayed many times over - there's a central, unbroken shot of her walking back from the corner shop late at night quietly singing to herself that seems to take a long time, but you realise that's just how it should be. To be sure, the instinct for avoiding cliche slips up sometimes: I wasn't surprised at the speed with which the recording engineer went from being cynical to impressed (though I was a bit surprised that the first song the busker decided to lay down was in 5/4, which is hard to dance to, at least).
But, especially considering the contrast with the previous film I saw Glen Hansard in (the disappointing Commitments, which had great music but lousy acting), I don't think I've seen such a beautiful piece of work for a very long time.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a lovely little film built on a simple premise and all the better for it. There are no pretensions here - it's low budget and looks it and that is the point. The songs bind everything together and are cracking tunes if you like your folksy singer songwriter stuff. It's romantic and engaging and at less than 1:30 it's over before you know it. Beautiful.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Described as a low budget movie,but dont be fooled by this description.It is good,entertaining movie,full of good songs throughout.Personally Ive never heard of the actors before,but no matter.Basically it`s a boy meets girl story,both musically gifted in different ways.Both have a hard life and loads of baggage.Both have ambitions of a better life.Recommended viewing,the music is a bonus.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disappointed
Both my daughter found this film pretty boring.....we fast forwarded some of it! Unlike others we didn't think the music was that good neither.
Published 7 days ago by Kaz Melade
Good film
I saw a review of the play in the Financial Times and its stealing Broadway - so bought film to see what that was like as it inspired the play. Very good enjoyable original film
Published 1 month ago by dce
Once...there was an amazing film!!
This film really captivates the spirit of music and song writing!
The songs in the film have been written by the main actors themselves and they are all very strong and moving... Read more
The songs in the film have been written by the main actors themselves and they are all very strong and moving... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Blake Robson
Warm little tale of a Czech immigrant in Ireland, ruined by endless...
Over-hyped, for sure! Small story, a little tale of lost love, which is soaked - nay, inundated - with thin, folky songs, screamed from an irritating high-tenor, with a pinched... Read more
Published 6 months ago by SeaGoat under Sirius
Amazing Movie!
This movie is so amazing! You never lose interest and it's very different from many other movies because it's like someone is following the main characters around with camera in... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Malachi
Best film I have seen in yonks
This film has really surprised me, and although there is no sex, crime, action or anything like that in it - or maybe I should say because none of that is in it - it is the most... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Jules
Terribly Corny
I got this film after it was included within a list of quirky cult movies, all of which were brilliant choices and decided that it would be a new one to check out. Read more
Published 8 months ago by felix_culpar
A modern, romantic musical in a class of its own
This is a very much a word-of-mouth film. It never seemed to get any attention when it was released at the cinema and although it won an Oscar, it wasn't one of the major awards... Read more
Published 12 months ago by S. Meadows
Once
A really interesting film. A different concept to use musicians instead of actors. It reminds me of a Mike Lee film concept.
Published 12 months ago by Mr. Peter G. Todhunter
Once seen never forgotten
This is indie movie-making at its best. The conversations are funny, real, and moving. The story, with its characters and sub-plots, breaks down barriers; making it easier to... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Emilie West
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