Rent Once (2006)

An Irish love Story? - Once review by CP Customer

So, not a lot happens, and you have to listen to a number of songs all the way through, so you got to like the music.And length-wise it is more like a good Play of the Month. Those are the downsides. The positives,of which there are lots, start with the characters. All likeable,well acted in the sense that you think they are playing themselves, and a story which avoids all those american "cliches".And it is happy--the humour gentle and the two central players you care for and like--you want them to make the right calls, and for God to look down and take care of them. So take it out,enjoy it and think that there have been some interesting films coming out of the ould country recently-and this is up there as one of the nicest.

Musical Realism. - Once review by Steve

An extremely potent, emotional musical about the relationship between an Irish busker and a Czech immigrant (real life musicians, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova), set in Dublin. It's a love story; but they are in love with other people in other countries. The film details their loneliness, and the solace their brief encounter might bring. The two stars truly create a chemistry often talked about but rarely seen. It helps to like the music: if so, the scene when Marketa sings If You Want Me to her absent husband, walking back from the shops is heart-rending.

There is a wonderful simplicity about this film, which works because the director has a lovely eye for detail, creating an intimacy with his digital camera. Once evokes that special relationship that exists between musicians, and the different language they share, and it allows us to eavesdrop on the magic that they may find together in the studio. It's a film that couples the enchantment often found in musicals, with a realistic recognition of familiar sorrow.

A Gem - Once review by GI

This humble, low budget gem of a film will warm the cockles of your heart. Set in Dublin it's a romantic, humorous drama about a young busker (Glen Hansard) who has a talent for songwriting but doesn't know how to get a music career going. Then one day he meets a young Czech immigrant (Markéta Irglová) and she encourages him to play, write and record his songs with her help. They slowly and gently fall in love during their journey together. Director John Carney shot using long lenses for the street scenes so ordinary people were caught up in the everyday drama. The music by Glen Hansard (of the band The Frames and who also had a small part in 1991s The Commitments) is fantastic and the songs essentially tell the story of the love that blossoms between the two main characters. This film has been much admired by the likes of Steven Spielberg for its simplicity and beautiful story and it really is a delight. There are some wonderful moments that are very subtle and watched carefully you can see where the these two young people begin to fall in love. What a little cracker of a film, there was even a stage show based upon it after it's reputation grew. If you've never seen this then I highly recommend it.