Once (2007)

A modern-day musical about a busker and an immigrant and their eventful week in Dublin, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story.

Director:

John Carney

Writer:

John Carney

Stars:

Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Hugh Walsh

Won 1 Oscar. Another 22 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Glen Hansard	...	Guy
Markéta Irglová	...	Girl (as Marketa Irglova)
Hugh Walsh	...	Timmy Drummer
Gerard Hendrick	...	Lead Guitarist (as Gerry Hendrick)
Alaistair Foley	...	Bassist
Geoff Minogue	...	Eamon
Bill Hodnett	...	Guy's Dad
Danuse Ktrestova	...	Girl's Mother
Darren Healy	...	Heroin Addict
Mal Whyte	...	Bill
Marcella Plunkett	...	Ex Girlfriend
Niall Cleary	...	Bob
Wiltold Owski	...	Man watching TV
Krzysztos Tlotka	...	Man watching TV
Tomek Glowacki	...	Man watching TV

Storyline

An unnamed guy is a Dublin guitarist/singer/songwriter who makes a living by fixing vacuum cleaners in his Dad's Hoover repair shop by day, and singing and playing for money on the Dublin streets by night. An unnamed girl is a Czech who plays piano when she gets a chance, and does odd jobs by day and takes care of her Mom and her daughter by night. Guy meets girl and they get to know each other as the girl helps the guy put together a demo disc that he can take to London in hope of landing a music contract. During the same several day period, the guy and the girl work through their past loves, and reveal their budding love for one another, through their songs.

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Plot Keywords:

independent film | ireland | payphone | watching television | song | 

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Taglines:

How often do you find the right person?

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [United States]

Country:

Ireland

Language:

English Czech

Release Date:

15 June 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jednom

Filming Locations:

Mountjoy Square East, Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

€180,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$61,901, 20 May 2007

Gross USA:

$9,439,923

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bórd Scannán na hÉireann, Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), Samson Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The director and cast were suffering from South Park (1997) withdrawal during filming and thus one of the characters, a session musician, was named "Timmy" - this is obvious as they depart the studio.

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Goofs

At approx 9:30 into the movie, Guy is exiting the Hoover shop (vacuum repair shop) where he works, and twice there is a mistake between shots of the open/close sign on the front door, once before he says he is going to flip the sign and then once again after he flips the sign, and the shot goes back to the shop and then to the door again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Heroin Addict: Fuckin' deadly you are, man.
Guy: Don't fucking... don't fucking go near that case.
Heroin Addict: What? I'm just tying me laces, man.

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Alternate Versions

Film prints have a few things at the beginning and end missing from the Fox DVD. After the Fox Searchlight logo and before the text-only company credits, the prints have a short silent logo for Summit Entertainment and then one for the Irish film board. At the end of the movie, once the credits crawl finishes, prints also have a short Fox Searchlight text-only card (containing the text "in association with" with no followup), a short card with a gigantic MPAA logo and number, and the blue R-rating screen.

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Connections

Referenced in Mixxxer Show: Rapper Ego (2016)

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Soundtracks

If You Want Me
Written by Markéta Irglová
Performed by Markéta Irglová
Published courtesy of Toby Darling

User Reviews

"A Magical Film of love, music, song...and a Hoover Vacuum!"

ONCE is a film to see and cherish for the magic of song and music combined in the setting of Dublin for a young man and woman who meet and who make wonderful music together. The only issue is she's married to a bloke in another country. But that doesn't stop them for creating a wonderful piece of music which will stay with them forever.

John Carney has directed and written a brilliant film which tags at your heart and makes your feet dance all at the same time. "Guy and Girl" are tremendous in their parts and the humor and passion they bring to their music. Dublin is such a great location for this film and it resembles London in so many of its blocks of buildings. The bond is also wonderful to see between father and son and the encouragement which the father gives his son.

ONCE gives you a time in your life when you meet your soul mate who brings the music to your heart you have always dreamed of...as well as a Hoover vacuum-"who knew?" See ONCE, because "once" you do, you may come back for more.