Once

John Carney
Ireland
2006

We’re in a world where a three-minute song is worth ten pages of dialogue.

88", 35mm
Color, English

about the film

A modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin. Featuring Glen Hansard from the Irish band "The Frames," the film tells the story of a street musician and a Czech immigrant during an eventful week as they write, rehearse and record songs that reveal their unique love story.

The Guy works part-time helping his father who runs a small vacuum cleaner repair business, but dreams of having his songs and landing a record deal. His girlfriend has recently left him and gone to London and he is still coming to grips with that loss and is emotionally vulnerable.

One day while busking Dublin’s Grafton Street, he meets the Girl: An East European immigrant who has moved to Dublin to start a new life and currently works as a house cleaner in an upper-class residence. She is struggling financially, cannot afford the piano she yearns for and is also in the process of making crucial decision about her personal life. They are both outsider struggling with their art and their hearts in a Dublin that has grown increasingly materialistic during Ireland’s unprecedented economic boom. Through music they find a common bond that brings them effortlessly together.

NOTE: This film's screening in Ankara is realized with the support of Radyo ODTÜ

about the director

Born in Dublin in 1972, the movie director John Carney was bass player in the band called The Frames in 1991-1993, and has directed several of their music videos. Before moving onto feature films, Carney has directed two award wining short films entitled Shining Star and Hotel. With his movie On The Edge (2001) he has won the Silver Hitchcock award at the Dinard Film Festival, while directing TV series in the meantime. After the success Once has brought, Carney plans on re-shooting his extremely low-budgeted Zonad (2003) to give it a fair shot.

awards

2006 Galway
2007 Dinard British Film Festival: Special Mention
Dublin Film Festival: Audience Award
Flanders Film Festival: Youth Jury Award
Sundance Film Festival: Audience Award
New York Film Festival
Edinburgh Film Festival

screenings

February 16 Saturday, 3:30 PM AFM Budak Caddebostan

February 20 Wednesday, 9:30 PM AFM Fitaş Beyoğlu 2

February 24 Sunday, 9:30 PM AFM Fitaş Beyoğlu 2

February 29 Friday, 9:30 PM AFM CEPA Ankara 2

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