Once Upon an Indie Film

Kevin and I rarely find ourselves with a free night to just kick back and watch a movie these days. In fact, I’m starting to wonder what a free night really means anymore. And what is this thing people keep calling a “theater”?

Last weekend we decided to schedule an in-house date night to watch a little film called “Once” that had been gifted to us by a rock star colleague of Kevin’s. I know, I know, indie films are largely hit or miss. But for some reason, this is the one movie we watched all year that got under our skin. In a very good way.

Once is described as “a modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin… (that) 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 plot is simple, the characters humble and the filmmaking so modest you believe you’re watching a real story play out in front of you. Storyline aside though, the amazing music is what pulls the film together. The emotion-filled ballads about love and the pains of love are beautifully written and even more incredibly performed.

The film was shot for a mere $160k and has grossed over $14 million worldwide, so I doubt we’re the only two people this film left in awe. If you’re a true music lover and in need of a date night, slap this one on your Netflix list. I highly recommend watching the extras on the DVD, as the cast and crew’s story only makes you appreciate the film even more.

A sneak preview if you're interested: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/once/