How often do you find the right person?

Rating: Null/10 (19 January 2008)

"Once, I loved, and I gave so much love to this love you were the world to me..."
No, Tom Jobim & Vinicius de Moraes's beautiful song isn't in the soundtrack, but "Once I Loved" has been in my mind for the past couple of days since I watched "Juno", and after watching "Once" for the first time last night, I've been particularly romantic and listening to a lot of bossa nova. But I digress...
"Once" is a simple, but lovely film about a week in the lives of a busker (the charismatic Glen Hansard) and a Czech immigrant (Markéta Irglová, who was only 17 when the movie was made) - as they get to know each other and decide to make some music together. John Carney's movie is nothing more than a musical variation of the "brief encounter" sub-genre, but the great soundtrack - composed and interpreted by Hansard and Irglová themselves - and the charm of Dublin make it special. Romantic, bittersweet and beautiful, "Once" is a valentine to love, the art of making music, and Ireland itself. Highly recommended. 9/10.