Once (2007)
Drama, Music, Romance |
Once is a Irish romantic musical drama film written and directed by John Carney. The film stars Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová as two struggling musicians in Dublin, Ireland. Hansard and Irglová had previously performed music as the Swell Season, and composed and performed the film’s original songs.
Once spent years in development with the Irish Film Board and was made for a budget of €112,000. It was a commercial success, earning substantial per-screen box office averages in the United States, and received acclaim from critics. It received awards including the 2007 Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film. Hansard and Irglová’s song “Falling Slowly” won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Original Song, and the soundtrack received a Grammy Award nomination.
A thirty-something busker (Guy) performs with his guitar on Grafton Street, a Dublin shopping district and chases a man who steals his money. Lured by his music, a young Czech flower seller (Girl) talks to him about his songs. Delighted to learn that he repairs hoovers, Girl insists that Guy fix her broken hoover. The next day Girl returns with her broken hoover and tells Guy that she is also a musician.
At a music store where Girl regularly plays piano, Guy teaches her one of his songs (“Falling Slowly”); they sing and play together. Guy invites her to his father’s shop, and on the bus home musically answers Girl’s question about what his songs are about: a long-time girlfriend who cheated on him, then left (“Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy”).
Director: John Carney
Writer: John Carney
Stars: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Hugh Walsh, Gerard Hendrick, Alaistair Foley, Geoff Minogue, Bill Hodnett
Cast:
| 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 |
| Attila Kouvacs | … | Man watching TV |
| Sean Miller | … | Bank Manager (as Sean Millar) |
| Pat McGrath | … | Drunk |
| Praghosa | … | Hari Krishna |
| Kate Haugh | … | Baby |
| Senan Haugh | … | Husband |
| Catherine Hansard | … | Singer at party |
| Pete Short | … | Singer at party |
| Fergus O’Farrell | … | Singer at Party |
| Bob Hoban | … | Shop Assistant Bogarts |
| Martina Akindojctimi | … | Person on Stoop |
| Ruslan Mannanu | … | Person on Stoop |
| Francis Usanga | … | Person on Stoop |
| Prince Tylot Khumaho | … | Person on Stoop |
| Joe Adebe | … | Person on Stoop |
| Bernard Gibsenen | … | Shop Assistant |
| Paul Clarke | … | Shop Assistant |
| Maire Walsh | … | Woman on Bus |
| Dave Cleary | … | Host at Party |
| Keith Byrne | … | Guy in Piano Shop |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia