Rated R

Directed by John Carney

Starring Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 4

Word of Warning: Personally I think this movie could have gotten away with a PG rating. There’s nothing offensive, just a few swear words with an Irish accent.

The pacing is slow, but if you enjoy music and the process of making music, you will enjoy Once. Set in modern day Dublin, Once is the story of an aspiring singer songwriter. He has recently broken up with a longtime girlfriend and most of his songs deal with the intense pain he has dealt with since the split. While playing in the street, a peculiar girl stops to listen and a friendship is formed. The girl is young, pretty and Czech. She plays the piano and because she can’t afford her own she plays at a local music store. My favorite scene occurs when the two main characters play their Academy Award winning song, “Falling Slowly” – guitar, piano and two voices. This song was stuck in my head for a week after viewing the film.

This movie has as simple beauty. The themes are not complex, but seem real. At times, Once feels more like a documentary than a movie. There isn’t a strong plot line, but Once is well-acted and it is a sweet story. I must reiterate that this is a slow moving movie so pour a cup of strong black tea before putting in the DVD.

For any musicians out there, Once is a must see. As a cute aside, the two main characters in this film are actually dating and their off-screen relationship make the on-screen friendship and musical connection all the more realistic.