Once
starring: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Senan Haugh, Leslie Murphy (II), Danuse Ktrestova
directed by: John Carney
directed by: John Carney
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Product Description:
Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 10/14/2008Run time: 86 minutesRating: R
Amazon.com:
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
Beyond Once on DVD
Stills from Once
Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 10/14/2008Run time: 86 minutesRating: R
Amazon.com:
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
Beyond Once on DVD
 Musicals on DVD |  Once: The Soundtrack |  More from Fox |
Stills from Once
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- A humble tribute to the bonds forged through music
In our cynical age, it somehow seems especially creative, even courageous, to make a film that is not about corruption, ennui, ulterior motives, dysfunctional social structures, or tragic flaws.Once is a film that is refreshing in its earnestness and in its respect for the things that add meaning and beauty to our lives.
I'm not a musician, but I once aspired to be one.And if I have one pet peeve about film generally, it's how film often disrespects music.It's often treated as ... Read More
Rating: 
- Absolutely fantastic film.
I won't waste time or space going into why and I don't want to give anything away by explaining anything.It is a great, great film.Five stars.That is all.
Rating: - One of the best indie movies ever
If you love music, like indie films and/or maybe just like accents of people from European countries, this movie will surely blow you away. Story line is great, the music is even better and for people who never did acting before, they did quite well in this movie. Buy it and I promise you that you won't regret it or at least check it out first somehow but it's worth owning.
Rating: - A realistic romance
This is an extraordinary movie, full of small moments and a sweet sense of promise. It manages to convey the growing attraction between the two main characters without delving into the bag of Hollywood cliches. The relationship that develops is realistically complicated, and doesn't take the shopworn path to a happy ending.
The music is also fantastic, and all the more appealing because it was written and performed by the principal players, not in bombastic musical-theater style, but ... Read More
Rating: - Excellent Movie
My husband and I happened to stumble on to this movie. We first heard about it from some award show (maybe the Emmy's) last year. This movie won best song and when they accepted their award we noticed first because of their heavy irish accent, but also becasue they were so genuinely excited about it! So once we saw it come on one of the movie channels we had to watch it. We were both so moved how amazing this movie was for it's simplicity, love and heartache the main character portrays, and wonderful ... Read More
- A humble tribute to the bonds forged through musicIn our cynical age, it somehow seems especially creative, even courageous, to make a film that is not about corruption, ennui, ulterior motives, dysfunctional social structures, or tragic flaws.Once is a film that is refreshing in its earnestness and in its respect for the things that add meaning and beauty to our lives.
I'm not a musician, but I once aspired to be one.And if I have one pet peeve about film generally, it's how film often disrespects music.It's often treated as ... Read More
- Absolutely fantastic film.I won't waste time or space going into why and I don't want to give anything away by explaining anything.It is a great, great film.Five stars.That is all.
- One of the best indie movies everIf you love music, like indie films and/or maybe just like accents of people from European countries, this movie will surely blow you away. Story line is great, the music is even better and for people who never did acting before, they did quite well in this movie. Buy it and I promise you that you won't regret it or at least check it out first somehow but it's worth owning.
- A realistic romanceThis is an extraordinary movie, full of small moments and a sweet sense of promise. It manages to convey the growing attraction between the two main characters without delving into the bag of Hollywood cliches. The relationship that develops is realistically complicated, and doesn't take the shopworn path to a happy ending.
The music is also fantastic, and all the more appealing because it was written and performed by the principal players, not in bombastic musical-theater style, but ... Read More
- Excellent MovieMy husband and I happened to stumble on to this movie. We first heard about it from some award show (maybe the Emmy's) last year. This movie won best song and when they accepted their award we noticed first because of their heavy irish accent, but also becasue they were so genuinely excited about it! So once we saw it come on one of the movie channels we had to watch it. We were both so moved how amazing this movie was for it's simplicity, love and heartache the main character portrays, and wonderful ... Read More
