Users

United States

United Kingdom

TV Series

TOPs

Awards & Festivals

About Filmaffinity

copy to clipboard

Once

7.2

26,124

Ratings

Add to lists

where to watch

flatrate

rent

buy

Pro reviews

1 Related Movies

Related Documentary:

The Swell Season

Original title: Once
Year: 2007
Running time: 85 min.
Country: Ireland
Director: John Carney
Screenwriter: John Carney
Music: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová
Cinematography: Tim Fleming
Cast: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Hugh Walsh, Gerry Hendrick, Alastair Foley, Geoff Minogue, Bill Hodnett, Danuse Ktrestova
Producer: Samson Films, Summit Entertainment, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ)
Genre: Drama. Romance | Music. Romantic Drama
Synopsis / Plot: A Dublin busker, who ekes out a living playing guitar and repairing vacuum cleaners for his dad's shop, meets a young Czech immigrant who sells roses on the same street. She likes his song, and what's more…she has a broken vacuum cleaner! They soon find themselves playing music together in a nearby music store (since she can't afford a piano, the owner lets her play his floor models). Over the course of a week, they form a musical rapport and, newly inspired, decide to record an album. Starring professional musicians: Glen Hansard (of the well-known Irish band the Frames) and Marketa Irglova, a Czech singer/songwriter.

Awards: 2007: Oscar Best Original Song

2007: Sundance: Audience Award (World Cinema)

2007: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Music Score

2007: Critics' Choice Awards: Best Song

2007: Chicago Film Critics Awards: Best Original Score. 4 Nominations

2007: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Foreign Film

Show 1 more awards

2007: British Independent Film Awards (BIFA): Nominated for Best International Independent Film

Critics' reviews

"It’s a magical, beguiling wonder (...) A gift of a movie that is absolutely worth seeing more than once (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 5)"

Peter Travers: Rolling Stone
"Its low-key affect and decidedly human scale endow 'Once' with an easy, lovable charm that a flashier production could never have achieved. The formula is simple: two people, a few instruments, 88 minutes and not a single false note"

A. O. Scott: The New York Times
"This is a very little film with a very large heart."

Ruthe Stein: SFGATE
"Hansard is undoubtedly a charismatic, compelling screen presence (...) The final shot packs a startling emotional punch and, like the rest of the movie, unfolds with deceptive lyricism and grace."

Ann Hornaday: The Washington Post
"[It] is magical from beginning to end. It's one of those films where you hold your breath, hoping it knows how good it is, and doesn't take a wrong turn (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"It's a soulful valentine to music, friendship and the joys of honest hard graft (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

Xan Brooks: The Guardian
"This is one of those rare films where the acting is so naturalistic and each scene so true to life that you almost feel as though you’re intruding."

Dom Horner: The Independent
"The music feels organic to the film and this is one of its triumphs (...) It works as a quiet, wistful modern romance (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

Laura Bushell: BBC

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Ranking Lists Position

8 Little Gems: Little Known Movies I've Discovered (131)
24 My Top 10 Movies from 2006 (130)
25 My Favorite Musicals (115)
31 My Favorite British & Irish Movies (50)
52 My Top 10 Movies from 2007 (76)
60 Movies with an Incredible Soundtrack (OST) (189)
64 My Favorite Movies from Europe & Latin America (37)
65 My Favorite Romantic Dramas (63)
70 Movies that Don't Seem that Special but are Very Special to Me (53)

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to info@filmaffinity.com

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org