A film to watch over and over

Rating: 10/10 (16 March 2008)

Once, is a brilliantly written musical/movie. Set in Dublin, it is the perfect backdrop for the central, working-class hero characters of the story:"Guy"(Glenn Hansard) and "Girl"(Marketa Irglova). Once follows the characters from their initial meeting, through their whirlwind week together. Both struggling in their personal, as well as their musical lives, Irglova pulls off her inherent optimism of something better being out there, and it seems to rub off on the older, and more cynical Hansard. From the first time they hear each other play their music, a bond begins to slowly form, and the more they collaborate, the easier it is for them to tell their stories through their music. Unlike most of the bed-hopping two minutes after they meet material that has become the norm in modern film, Once uses a solid story line and the believability of its two main characters to make a story that, outside of a few curses, remains pure and enjoyable. Even the most cynical of sorts will be rooting for "Guy" and "Girl" to live out their dreams, and maybe even fall for each other. If you like good, folk-minded music, with some catchy beats, and excellent story telling, Once is film for you to see.