This is probably the most naturalistic and believable romantic musical you may ever see and hear. Even though the whole movie was shot using camcorder ala Cloverfield but it suited well with the storyline. Initially i was hooked to one of their songs from their OST and after searching high and low for the movie, i finally watched it today. The expectation i had initially was pretty low knowing that this is a low budget movie which cost them $160,000 but managed to rake in $14 mil. The Irish romance ONCE may be a musical, but it is miles away from the traditional Hollywood idea of people bursting into song. Glen Hansard (frontman for indie rock band The Frames) plays the guy, a street musician who is playing for change when he meets the girl (Marketa Irglova), an immigrant from the Czech Republic. The pair immediately bond over their shared love of music (he is a guitarist, and she plays the piano), and the film chronicles their tentative relationship. Both are weighed down by plenty of baggage: his songs are fueled by a painful breakup, and she is a young mother who left her husband behind in her native country.

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