Once
Starring: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Bill Hodnet.
Details: Ireland / 85mins (15A).
When he's not working in his father's repair shop, heartsick Hansard spends his time busking on the streets of Dublin. One night, he catches the eye of Irglova's pretty Czech singerstreet hawker, who notices that he isn't playing the standard hits he usually plays during the day. The next day she arrives in his shop and takes him to a music store where they allow her to play piano. They work on a tune together and romance seems imminent. However, Hansard still laments for his ex and Irglova doesn't know what to do about the husband she left back home. Is it just me or are Irish movies slowly but surely getting better? In the last ten years the Irish film industry has given us little gems every now and then and Once can be added to the growing tally that includes I Went Down, Adam And Paul and Intermission. Taking its cue from Before Sunrise, Once is a musical with a difference - it's a small story that doesn't let music get in the way of the characters or the plot. Carney proves that a lack of a budget won't inhibit a good story, interesting people and, of course, great tunes. Hansard and Irglova put in assured performances and I'm sure that making an album together really helped the on-screen chemistry they share. This isn't the usual rags-to-riches story, it's a moment in time shared by two people searching for a great moment in time and isn't that all we can hope for in life? Once is a movie for music lovers - and you don't even have to like The Frames.
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Your Reviews
Should be called Don't! - Fitzcaraldo's
A truly awful film, I can't see how anyone could find anything good to say about it. A cliche ridden 90 minutes - mainly comprising of montage sequences, which in itself, says it all. The leads were... MORE
Review Published 06 December 2009
Star Rating: 
a film to cherish - norm
A modern-day musical about a Dublin busker who ekes out a living playing guitar and repairing vacuum cleaners for his dad's shop who immigrant meets a young Czech immigrant who sells roses on the... MORE
Review Published 04 August 2008
Star Rating: 
Worth a look, definitely worth a listen ! - rianaoibhinn
First off, as a non-fan of The Frames, I absolutely loved the music in this movie ! It caught the emotion perfectly of what the movie was trying to convey. The movie itself dragged a little for me... MORE
Review Published 25 March 2008
Star Rating: 
michele32 - michelemary
loved the story of a magical love story,thought it was so different from anthing else out there at the moment.good star cast in it.recommend it.
Review Published 23 March 2008
Star Rating: 
perfect - Jovi
This is the perfect caption of a Dublin that is easy to forget and with music that is typically played in the old pubs around the city. If you look for action, it is the wrong movie, but if you are... MORE
Review Published 21 February 2008
Star Rating:
Movie Marmite - caroline judge
I loved this film because it made me feel good afterwards, the story was slight but the emotion seemed real. I think if you hate the music and you're a lover of beautiful cinematography or loads of... MORE
Review Published 08 January 2008
Star Rating:
Melancholy - bunsen
very good irish film, im personally sick of big budget america films that try to be something there not, try to teach the viewer a lesson, while the scripts are woefully flaky. this film doesn't do... MORE
Review Published 05 January 2008
Star Rating:
We loved it. - jonalisa
It's bittersweet and the songs are full of emotion. My husband and I both immediately want the soundtrack. The lead singer from the Frames is one of our favorite songwriters. His co-lead has a... MORE
Review Published 02 January 2008
Star Rating:
LOVED THIS MOVIE - sunny j
the music and the story was perfect, i was moved so much by the music, that i cried, one of the best irish films of 2007.
Review Published 26 December 2007
Star Rating:
i will never get that hour and a half of my life back - disgruntled belfast viewer
what a truly pathetic piece of film, amateurish would be putting it very mildly. no story at all, no narrative, horribly filmed and acted by people who should stick to their day jobs even... MORE
Review Published 13 November 2007
Very enjoyable - Bud
This was a pleasant surprises this year, it is a charming, little Irish musical film called ONCE. . it begins a little wobbly but when its leading lady makes her... MORE
Review Published 29 May 2007
Star Rating: 
Once upon a great. - Brook D.
man meets woman and what happens they don't fall in love? its so amazing the way its not typical like every other film going. the music is beautiful and this film is one to watch on your first date... MORE
Review Published 07 May 2007
Star Rating: 
Once upon a great. - brookdotcom@hotmail.com
man meets woman and what happens they don't fall in love? its so amazing the way its not typical like every other film going. the music is beautiful and this film is one to watch on your first date... MORE
Review Published 07 May 2007
Star Rating:
Loved it, miss it and you'll regret it! - Flutterby
I didn't know anything about this movie before I went to see it, all I was told was that I just had to see it, so many people were raving about it. I have to say I absolutely loved it. It is such a... MORE
Review Published 24 April 2007
Star Rating:
Extended Music Video - DK
Like watching an overly extended indie music video. Think boy meets girl and love isn't easy and there you have the themes of the video. Nothing new here story-wise, yet if a good hour... MORE
Review Published 11 April 2007
Star Rating: 
music fans will love it - martin
John Carney's Once is a delight, a wonderfully sincere film told with charm. Glen Hansard frontman from The Frames plays an unnamed character, dubbed The Guy who lives at home with his father above... MORE
Review Published 09 April 2007
Star Rating:
a nice story - airyfairy
i liked the film but i did feel that it was just a promotion for the new album at the end. the music though didnt really get in the way of character development. it is a nice story and a good irish... MORE
Review Published 07 April 2007
Star Rating:
It's a musical Jim, but not as we know it - Mark W
It's important to get one thing straight before we continue, I don't like musicals, musicals don't like me. It's a relationship which has worked out quite well, until now. Once is a musical, but not... MORE
Review Published 03 April 2007
Star Rating:
What liers ! - Sineadgalla@gmail.com
manitou4 and Andrew ur off ur heads if u think Glen Hansard has a bad voice cause he is brillent i have been to the frames concerts and sang with them and they seem to be famous and ye don't ! ... MORE
Review Published 01 April 2007
Star Rating:
Awful - manitou4
Easily one of the worst films I've ever seen. It's nothing more than a long-drawn-out ad for the forthcoming album. Not sure which was worse, the 'music' or the script. And who told that red-haired... MORE
Review Published 29 March 2007
Star Rating: 
Yawn - Andrew
After a promising start Once quickly descends into a morass of tedious arthouse cliches. To make matters worse it stars the ginger whinger himself Glen Hasard. Driving to work yesterday I passed my... MORE
Review Published 28 March 2007
Star Rating:
Simple yet refreshing film - Old_No7
Every now and again it does happen, a decent film is produced in Ireland. After the last few disasters, Middletown, the one with the rabid cows (cant remember what it was called) and the godawful... MORE
Review Published 26 March 2007
Star Rating:
Really nice movie - The unchained malady
It's cheap as chips and it shows but it doesn't really matter because even with a crippling lack of cash this is still a really lovely and nicely crafted film.That's because it's a very simple story... MORE
Review Published 23 March 2007
Star Rating:
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