ONCE -- John Carney, dir

©2007
studio: 20th Century Fox
production company: Bórd Scannán na hÉireann, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTE), Samson Films, Summit Entertainment
director: John Carney
cast: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Senan Haugh, Leslie Murphy (II), Danuse Ktrestova
screenplay: John Carney

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. [imdb.com]

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I do like the way foreign films tell stories, rather than relying on pizzazz and star power to sell the movie. It's so much nicer to get caught up in a story. To fall in love with the characters.

This modern musical is a pretty good film. It did leave two negative impressions on me, though. First was the song that the man sang. Over and over and over. Neither his voice nor the song was so great that I needed to hear it so much (maybe it wasn't really as much as I'm recalling, but it was enough that it stuck with me). I understand the reason for it ... it's his song. His signature song. It's the song that he can return to and be comfortable with. But it was a bit grating.

The other problem I had was the romance. Not between the two main characters -- that was wonderfully written and played -- but between the two main characters and their 'others.' What was going on there? What was the point? I never felt he was truly in love with anyone other than his music muse.

Not a bad film, certainly recommendable, but not outstanding either.