The music is where it shines brightest - Once Reviews

Like any film centered around a real musician, the heart of the film lies in the performances within. Don't look too closely at the acting, both leads are musicians, not actors. The lines between them often feel rigid. But when they sing together the magic happens, and it is gorgeous. The grainy handheld shots at night, with complete disregard for balanced visual composition, reminds one of Godard, and completes the aesthetic of the humanistic music.