Once (film)

Once is a 2007 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
US theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Carney
Produced byMartina Niland
Written byJohn Carney
StarringGlen Hansard
Markéta Irglová
Music byGlen Hansard
Markéta Irglová
Interference
CinematographyTim Fleming
Edited byPaul Mullen
Production
company
Distributed byBuena Vista International
Release date
  • 20 January 2007 (2007-01-20) (Sundance)
  • 23 March 2007 (2007-03-23) (Ireland)
Running time
86 minutes[1]
CountryIreland
LanguageEnglish
Budget$150,000[2]
Box office$23.3 million[3]

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.

Plot

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").

At the shop, Guy introduces Girl to his father and takes her to his room, but when he asks her to stay the night, Girl feels insulted and leaves. The next day, they reconcile and spend the week writing, rehearsing and recording songs. Girl rehearses lyrics for one of Guy's songs ("If You Want Me"), singing to herself while walking down the street; at a party, people perform impromptu (including "Gold").

Guy works on "Lies", a song about his ex-girlfriend, who moved to London. Girl encourages him to win her back. Invited to the woman's home, Guy discovers that Girl has a toddler and lives with her mother. Guy decides to move to London, but he wants to record a demo of his songs to take with him and asks Girl to record it with him. They secure a bank loan and reserve time at a recording studio.

Guy learns Girl has a husband in the Czech Republic. When he asks if she still loves her husband, Girl answers in Czech, "Miluji tebe" ("I love you"),[4] but coyly declines to translate. After recruiting a band from other buskers, they go into the studio to record. They impress Eamon, the jaded studio engineer, with their first song ("When Your Mind's Made Up"). On a break in the early morning, Girl finds a piano in an empty studio and plays Guy one of her own compositions ("The Hill").

After the all-night session wraps up, they walk home. Before they part ways, Girl reveals that she spoke to her husband and he is coming to live with her in Dublin. Guy persuades her to spend his last night in Dublin with him, but she stands him up and he cannot find her to say goodbye before his flight. He plays the demo for his father, who gives him money to help him get settled in London. Before leaving for the airport, Guy buys Girl a piano and makes arrangements for its delivery, then calls his ex-girlfriend, who is happy about his imminent arrival. Girl reunites with her husband in Dublin and plays the piano in their home.

Cast
Once stars Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
  • Glen Hansard as Guy
  • Markéta Irglová as Girl
  • Hugh Walsh as Timmy Drummer
  • Gerard Hendrick as Lead Guitarist
  • Alaistair Foley as Bassist
  • Geoff Minogue as Eamon
  • Bill Hodnett as Guy's Dad
  • Danuse Ktrestova as Girl's Mother
  • Darren Healy as Heroin Addict
  • Mal Whyte as Bill
  • Marcella Plunkett as Ex-girlfriend
  • Niall Cleary as Bob
  • Wiltold Owski as Man watching TV
  • Krzysztos Tlotka as Man watching TV
  • Tomek Glowacki as Man watching TV
  • Keith Byrne as Guy in Piano Shop

Production
Hansard's busking scenes were filmed on Grafton Street.

The two leads, Hansard and Irglová, are both professional musicians.[5] Director Carney, former bassist for Hansard's band The Frames, had asked his long-time friend to share busker anecdotes and compose songs for the film, but had intended the male lead to be played by actor Cillian Murphy,[6] who was an almost-signed rock musician before turning to acting.[7] Murphy was also going to be one of the film's producers. But Murphy declined the prospect of acting opposite non-actor Irglová (then 17 years old) and also felt that he hadn't the vocal capabilities to belt out Hansard's octave-leaping songs, so he pulled out, as did the film's other producers along with their financial resources.[8] Carney then turned to songwriter Hansard, who'd previously done only one acting job, a supporting role as guitarist Outspan Foster in the 1991 ensemble film The Commitments, the story of a Dublin soul music cover band. Hansard was initially reluctant, fearing that he wouldn't be able to pull it off, but after stipulating that he had to be fully involved in the filmmaking process and that it be low-budget and intimate, he agreed.[8]

Produced on a shoestring, about 75% of the budget was funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann (The Irish Film Board), plus some of Carney's own money. The director gave his salary to the two stars, and promised a share of the back-end for everyone if the film was a success. Shot with a skeleton crew on a 17-day shoot, the filmmakers saved money by using natural light and shooting at friends' houses.[9] The musical party scene was filmed in Hansard's own flat, with his personal friends playing the partygoers/musicians[10]—his mother, Catherine Hansard, is briefly featured singing solo. The Dublin street scenes were recorded without permits and with a long lens so that many passersby didn't even realize that a film was being made. The long lens also helped the non-professional actors relax and forget about the camera, and some of the dialogue ended up being improvised.[8]

During the shoot, Carney had predicted a romance, calling Hansard and Irglová his Bogart and Bacall. Hansard and Irglová did become a couple in real life, getting together while on a promotional tour across North America, and living together in Dublin, in Hansard's flat.[11] Entertainment Weekly reported:

The chemistry between (the) two leads ... was easy to produce during the January 2006 shoot in Dublin. "I had been falling in love with her for a long time, but I kept telling myself she's just a kid," says Hansard, 37, who has known his 19-year-old costar for the past six years. "There was definitely the feeling we were documenting something precious and private."[12]

Subsequently, Hansard indicated that they were no longer a romantic couple.[13] He said, "Of course, we fell into each other's arms. It was a very necessary part of our friendship but I think we both concluded that that wasn't what we really wanted to do. So we're not together now. We are just really good friends."

Yet Hansard and Irglová were quite happy with the unrequited ending for their onscreen characters. In an interview, Hansard states that "Had the US distributor changed the end and made us kiss, I wouldn't be interested in coming and promoting it, at all."[10] Hansard says that ad-libbing produced the moment where Irglova's character tells the Guy in unsubtitled Czech, "No, I love you", but when it was shot, he didn't know what she'd said, just like his character.[14]

Both Hansard and Irglova give the impression in interviews that they are unlikely to pursue further acting. Irglova has spoken about being nervous in front of a crew, saying "I don't think I would be a good actress, overall",[15] and Hansard generally refers to the movie as a one-off, talking of "moving on... living a different life".[15]

As a result of the film, Hansard and Irglová have been releasing music and touring together as The Swell Season.

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová reprised their roles in The Simpsons episode "In the Name of the Grandfather".

Reception

Box office

A rough cut of the film was previewed on 15 July 2006 at the Galway Film Fleadh, but the film was subsequently turned down by several prestigious European film festivals.[16] However, once finished, it secured spots at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival on 20 January 2007 and the Dublin Film Festival in February 2007, and received the audience awards at both events.[17]

The film was first released on cinema in Ireland on 23 March 2007, followed by a limited release in the United States on 16 May 2007. After its second weekend in release in the United States and Canada, the film topped the 23 May 2007 indieWIRE box office chart with nearly $31,000 average per location.[18] As of 28 March 2009, Once has grossed nearly $9.5 million in North America and over $20 million worldwide.[19]

Accolades

After 2007's box office success and critical acclaim, it won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film.[20][21] Steven Spielberg was quoted as saying "A little movie called Once gave me enough inspiration to last the rest of the year". When informed of Spielberg's comments, director John Carney told Sky News, "in the end of the day, he's just a guy with a beard". At the time of this interview, Carney himself was also wearing a beard.[22]

The song "Falling Slowly" won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song.[23] The nomination's eligibility for the Oscar was initially questioned,[24] as versions of the song had been released on The Cost and The Swell Season albums, but this was resolved before the voting for the award took place. The AMPAS music committee satisfied themselves that the song had indeed been written for the film and determined that, in the course of the film's protracted production, the composers had "played the song in some venues that were deemed inconsequential enough to not change the song’s eligibility".[25]

Critical response

Once was met with extremely positive reviews from critics. Upon its March 2007 release in Ireland, RTÉ's Caroline Hennessy gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and termed it "an unexpected treasure". About the acting, this Irish reviewer commented, "Once has wonderfully natural performances from the two leads. Although musicians first and actors second, they acquit themselves well in both areas. Irglová, a largely unknown quantity alongside the well-known and either loved or loathed Hansard, is luminous."[26] Michael Dwyer of The Irish Times gave the film the same rating, calling it "irresistibly appealing" and noting that "Carney makes the point – without ever labouring it – that his protagonists are living in a changing city where the economic boom has passed them by. His keen eye for authentic locations is ... evident".[17]

In May, on Ebert & Roeper, both Richard Roeper and guest critic Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave enthusiastic reviews. Phillips called it, "the most charming thing I've seen all year", "the Brief Encounter for the 21st century", his favorite music film since 1984's Stop Making Sense and said, "It may well be the best music film of our generation". Roeper referred to the film's recording studio scene as "more inspirational and uplifting than almost any number of Dreamgirls or Chicago or any of those multi-zillion dollar musical showstopping films. In its own way, it will blow you away."[27] Once won very high marks from U.S. critics; it is rated 97% "fresh" from 158 critics, and an average rating of 8.30/10, with the website's critical consensus states, "A charming, captivating tale of love and music, Once sets the standard for the modern musical. And with Dublin as its backdrop, Once is fun and fresh" by the film review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes[28] and scored a grade of 88 ("universal acclaim") from 33 critics according to Metacritic.[29]

In late 2007, Amy Simmons of Time Out London wrote, "Carney’s highly charged, urban mise-en-scène with its blinking street lamps, vacant shops and dishevelled bed-sits provides ample poetic backdrop for the film’s lengthy tracking shots, epitomised in a sequence where the Girl walks to the corner shop in pyjamas and slippers while listening to one of the Guy’s songs on her personal stereo. With outstanding performances from Hansard and newcomer Irglová, Carney has created a sublime, visual album of unassuming and self-assured eloquence."[30] The Telegraph's Sukhdev Sandhu said, "Not since Before Sunset has a romantic film managed to be as touching, funny or as hard to forget as Once. Like Before Sunset, it never outstays its welcome, climaxing on a note of rare charm and unexpectedness."[31]

The film appeared on many North American critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2007:

In 2008, the film placed third on Entertainment Weekly's "25 Best Romantic Movies of the Past 25 Years".[36]

DVD and Blu-ray

Once was released on DVD in the US on 18 December 2007,[37] and in the UK on 25 February 2008,[38] followed by a British Blu-ray release on 16 February 2009.[39] Once was released on Blu-ray in the US as an Amazon-exclusive on April 1, 2014.[40]

Soundtrack
Once
Soundtrack album by
Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová and Interference
Released
  • 22 May 2007 (2007-05-22) (United States)
  • 26 May 2007 (2007-05-26) (Ireland)
GenreFolk rock
Length43:37
LabelCanvasback
Columbia Records
Sony BMG
ProducerGlen Hansard
Singles from Once
  1. "Falling Slowly"
    Released: April 21, 2006 (The Swell Season)
    September 22, 2006 (The Cost)
    May 22, 2007 (the film's soundtrack)
    February 2008 (radio single)

The soundtrack album was released on 22 May 2007 in the United States and four days later in Ireland.

A collector's edition of the soundtrack was released on 4 December 2007 in the US with additional songs and a bonus DVD with live performances and interviews about the film. The additional songs were two previously unreleased Van Morrison covers: Hansard's "And the Healing Has Begun", and Hansard and Irglová's "Into the Mystic".[41]

Different versions of a lot of the soundtrack's songs were previously released on The Frames' album The Cost and on Hansard and Irglová's The Swell Season (both released in 2006). An early version of the last track, "Say It to Me Now", originally appeared on The Frames' 1995 album Fitzcarraldo. "All the Way Down" first appeared on the self-titled album from musician collective The Cake Sale, with Gemma Hayes providing vocals. The song "Gold" was written by Irish singer-songwriter Fergus O'Farrell and performed by Interference.[42]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Glen Hansard, except where noted[42].

No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Falling Slowly" (Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová)Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová4:04
2."If You Want Me" (Irglová)Irglová and Hansard3:48
3."Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy"Hansard0:53
4."When Your Mind's Made Up"Hansard and Irglová3:41
5."Lies" (Hansard, Irglová)Hansard and Irglová3:59
6."Gold" (Fergus O'Farrell)Interference3:59
7."The Hill" (Irglová)Irglová4:35
8."Fallen from the Sky"Hansard3:25
9."Leave"Hansard2:46
10."Trying to Pull Myself Away"Hansard3:36
11."All the Way Down"Hansard2:39
12."Once"Hansard and Irglová3:39
13."Say It to Me Now"Hansard2:35
14."And the Healing Has Begun" (Van Morrison, Collector's Edition only)Hansard5:19
15."Into the Mystic" (Morrison, Collector's Edition only)Hansard and Irglová4:21

Accolades

The soundtrack was nominated for two 2008 Grammy Awards, under Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media and, for "Falling Slowly", Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.[43] It won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Music,[44] and it was ranked at number two on the Entertainment Weekly 25 New Classic Soundtrack Albums list (1983–2008).[45]

Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result
80th Academy Awards Best Original Song Glenn Hansard and Markéta Irglová for "Falling Slowly" Won
Critics' Choice Awards Best Song Won
13th Empire Awards Best Soundtrack Once Nominated
50th Grammy Awards Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová Nominated
Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová for "Falling Slowly" Nominated
23rd Independent Spirit Awards Best Foreign Film John Carney Won
12th Satellite Awards Best Original Song Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová for "If You Want Me" Nominated

Charts success

The soundtrack album reached #20 on the Irish Albums Chart in its first week, peaking at #15 a few weeks later. Following the Oscar win, the album reached the top of the chart, while "Falling Slowly" reached a new peak of #2.[46]

In the United States, it ranked as the #10 soundtrack on 1 June.[47] As of 11 July 2007, the album has sold 54,753 copies in the US. The album reached #27 on the Billboard 200 according to Allmusic. It also reached #2 on the Soundtracks Chart and #4 on the Independent Chart.

Stage adaptation
Main article: Once (musical)

The film has been adapted for the stage as the musical (Once). It first opened at the New York Theatre Workshop on 6 December 2011. The screenplay was adapted by Enda Walsh and the production directed by John Tiffany.[48]

In February 2012, the musical transferred to Broadway's Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. It began in previews on 28 February 2012 and opened on 18 March 2012.[49] Directed by John Tiffany, the cast features Steve Kazee as Guy and Cristin Milioti as Girl with sets and costumes by Bob Crowley. The music is from the film with two additional songs, and the cast is also the orchestra. The musical opened up to generally positive reviews.[50] Since its opening, Once has been named Best Musical by The Outer Critics' Circle, Drama League, The New York Drama Critics' Circle, and The Tony Awards.

The Broadway production of Once was nominated for a total of 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Steve Kazee), Best Actress in a Musical (Cristin Milioti), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Elizabeth A. Davis) and Best Direction of a Musical.[51] On 10 June 2012, it won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical.[52]

See also

References
  1. "ONCE- British Board of Film Classification". British Board of Film Classification.
  2. "Once (2007) – Box Office Mojo". boxofficemojo.com.
  3. "Once (2007)". The Numbers. 20 December 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  4. Cival. "Once (2006)". Film.moviezone.cz. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  5. Scott, A. O. "Movie Review: Once", The New York Times, 16 May 2007. Accessed 21 April 2008.
  6. CHUD.com cast and director interview Archived 26 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine from 14 May 2007
  7. O'Hagan, Sean. "'I just want to challenge myself with each role'", The Observer, 11 June 2006. Accessed 8 August 2006.
  8. The Gazette Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine from 14 April 2007
  9. Weisman, Jon. "Once Upon a Time", Variety, 18 July 2007. Accessed 11 August 2007.
  10. Interview 3 of 4 with Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova on YouTube
  11. du Lac, J. Freedom. "Making a Name for Themselves: 'Once's' Guy and Girl, In Tune On- and Off-Screen, Shed Their Anonymity", The Washington Post, 17 February 2008. Accessed 21 April 2008.
  12. "'Once' a Hero", Entertainment Weekly, 14 June 2007. Accessed 21 April 2008.
  13. "Tempting fame". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 January 2009.
  14. E! Online, 24 August 2007: Once Is Not Enough: Summer's Secret Smash – Interview with Glen Hansard Accessed 14 January 2008.
  15. Once video interview with stv.tv Archived 28 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  16. Dawtrey, Adam. "Once director remains close to roots: Carney to make Zonad before Fox's House", Variety, 17 August 2007. Accessed 1 March 2008.
  17. The Irish Times film review, 23 March 2007: "Street sweethearts" Re-linked 2013-05-07.
  18. indieWIRE box office chart from 23 May 2007.
  19. "Once (2007)". Box Office Mojo. 20 December 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  20. Kilday, Gregg. "Indie Spirits: Juno wins best feature", The Hollywood Reporter, 24 February 2007. Accessed 1 March 2008.
  21. Willmore, Alison. "The Winners of the 2007 Spirit Awards" Archived 26 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, IFC.com, 23 February 2008. Accessed 1 March 2008.
  22. Breznican, Anthony. "'Once' isn't enough: Film gets marketing push", USA Today, 7 August 2007. Accessed 9 August 2007.
  23. "Winner: Music (Song)", Oscars.com. Accessed 28 February 2007.
  24. Hickey, Shane. "Oscar song gets 'Once' over as its eligibility is questioned", Irish Independent, 28 January 2008. Accessed 28 January 2008.
  25. Carr, David. "Once Again, a Legit Nominee", The Carpetbagger blog at The New York Times, 29 January 2008. Accessed 29 January 2008.
  26. Hennessy, Caroline. "Once". RTÉ.ie, 22 March 2007. Accessed 1 March 2008.
  27. Ebert & Roeper review Archived 27 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine from the weekend of 18 May 2007
  28. "Once at Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  29. "Metacritic entry for Once". Metacritic. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  30. Simmons, Amy. "Once", Time Out London, 17–23 October 2007. Accessed 1 March 2008.
  31. "Film reviews: Rendition and Once", The Telegraph, 19 October 2007. Accessed 1 March 2008.
  32. Metacritic: 2007 Film Critic Top Ten Lists Archived 2 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Metacritic. Accessed 5 January 2008.
  33. Germain, David and Lemire, Christy. "No Country for Old Men earns nod from AP critics" Archived 18 June 2008 at Archive.today, Associated Press via Columbia Daily Tribune, 27 December 2007. Accessed 31 December 2007.
  34. "The 2007 Top Tens: The Critics" Archived 3 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine, MovieCityNews.com. Accessed 1 May 2008.
  35. ""Best Of" Lists". WGN Radio. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  36. "25 Best Romantic Movies of the Past 25 Years – 3.Once". Entertainment Weekly. 26 July 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  37. Amazon US: Once (2007) Linked 2013-05-07
  38. Amazon UK: Once (DVD) Linked 2013-05-07
  39. Amazon UK: Once (Blu-ray) Linked 2013-05-07
  40. Amazon US: Once (Blu-ray) Linked 2014-04-06
  41. The Frames' discography at Irish Music Central Archived 10 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  42. AllMusicGuide.com
  43. "50th annual Grammy Awards nominations (part II)", Variety, 6 December 2007. Accessed 10 December 2007.
  44. L.A. critics call for 'Blood', Variety, 9 December 2007.
  45. "25 New Classic Soundtrack Albums" Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2008. Accessed 12 August 2008.
  46. "Top 50 Singles"/"Top 100 Individual Artist Albums" Archived 2 November 2012 at WebCite, Irish Recorded Music Association. Accessed 8 March 2007.
  47. Billboard from the 9 June 2007 issue
  48. Rooney, David (24 November 2011). "Theater Listings for Nov. 25-Dec. 1". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  49. "Playbill Vault Entry for 'Once' Broadway Production". Playbillvault.com. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  50. Jones, Kenneth (18 March 2012). "Once, the Irish-Kissed Musical About "Falling Slowly," Opens on Broadway". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  51. Sneitker, Mark (1 May 2012). "Tony Awards nominations 2012". ew.com. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  52. "List of 2012 Tony nominations". The Washington Post. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
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