Once [2007] | ![Once [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xov2%2BumNL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: John Carney
Actors: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Hugh Walsh, Gerard Hendrick, Alaistair Foley
Studio: Icon Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £6.98
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Rating:  41 reviews
Sales Rank: 222
Format: Pal
Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), Czech (Original Language), English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 84 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5051429101279
ASIN: B000ZK9SQM
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: February 25, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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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 (Marketa Irglova) 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 Irglova (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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| Customer Reviews: Read 36 more reviews...
 How often do you meet the right person.. July 14, 2008
L. Davidson (Belfast, N.Ireland)
It took "Once" sometime to grow on me but by the end of the film I was wishing it would go on for much longer than it's allotted 84 minutes. "Once" is a modern day musical set amid the Dublin underclass. A part time busker meets a Czech immigrant flower girl who happens to be a keen pianist. Together they share a tentative platonic romance ,form a band and cut a disc in a recording studio. The busker is nursing a broken heart from a previous relationship while the girl has an estranged husband in the Czech republic, the father to her little girl.The love story is poignant,yet unfulfilled, but the highlight of this film is the music, slightly irritating at the start of the film but magnificent by the end. Highly recommended.
 One star for Once July 10, 2008
Sandson Ulce (Thankfully not Dublin)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
My Goodness, what a dreadful film. One annoying beard, several annoying songs and a pointless story. I recommend fast-forwarding any of the montages with this pair singing over the top if you want to get through it unscathed.
Brilliant July 2, 2008
Sarah (Ireland)
I really like this film. It's refreshingly different and so is the ending. Much more real life with people with real problems. I'd recommend it.
A Small Film With A Big Heart June 27, 2008
Somewhat Dissapointed
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Oh what a little gem this film is. SO simple in its storyline and execution, but yet it manages to pluck at the heart strings on so many levels. DO NOT be put off by the word 'Musical' - I hate them and despite this film describing itself as just that, it never feels this way. The songs are mighty and the inspired direction, and the 'virginal' acting debuts on the part of the two leads, give the whole thing a freshness and a heartwarming reality that will charm all but those who sadly were born with their hearts in neutral. Watch it and like me you might feel moved to sit down and write a review and then buy the soundtrack, right there and then. After that you might consider checking out the music of The Frames too (Glenn Hansard's original musical vehicle). So sorry if it turns out you don't like it even after all that has been said here and before - you really are missing out.
 What a load of old blarney June 22, 2008
Amanda Foster
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'm not sure what I expected from this film but whatever it was I didn't get it. It started out well, in retrospect the best acting in the entire film can be seen in the first scene. I knew it was a musical - hence lots of music and I liked the music! the music was fine, it was just the rest of it.
The storyline was flimsy at best, the lead character was weak and I found it difficult to comprehend that an ENTIRE film had been made around the plot of girlfriend sleeps with other man, betrayed man then writes lots of songs about hurt, pain etc etc.
Man didn't appear to be in terrible emotional angst about this in fact if czech girl hadn't pointed out how much he must be hurting I think he may have been blissfully unaware.
I'd had a couple of whiskys and it was raining, overcast and dark my concept of time was a bit off I didn't know duration of the film until this morning, when I discovered it was only 84 minutes long - trust me it felt far longer.
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