一部以都柏林為故事背景的電影。街頭現代音樂男歌手(愛爾蘭創作歌手Glen Hansard飾)以及和捷克移民女孩(捷克女歌手Marketa Irglova飾)在街頭偶遇與短暫相處相惜，以合作譜寫歌曲及灌錄唱片為追求理想的共同實踐。情節襯托出各自的微弱和困境，盪漾著若即若離、似有若無的情愫；單純淺淺淡淡未曾也不需表示的愛情，在片中藉著一首首歌曲表達，最終成就的是一串悠揚輕柔的音符和綿長微弱的嘆息，從片尾女孩彈著琴望外的窗戶飄出消翳，也從男歌手離去的腳步間掉落，純粹而短暫的偶遇相知與愛慕已是曾經。
Once除了是一個愛情短篇，也給音樂創作者帶來許多啟發，此外如同Marketa Irglova在Oscar獲獎後所說：No matter how far is your dream, it is possible !也是Once給觀眾的最大另一啟發，不館是愛情或是理想都是。
【IMDB】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.
Glen Hansard - Falling Slowly
I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along
電影原聲帶Once（曾經擁有）獲2008奧斯卡最佳音樂
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova accepting the Oscar® for Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly" from the film "Once" - the 80th Annual Academy Awards®.
◎全美驚創九百萬美元票房音樂愛情電影，引發心靈共鳴的生活情歌
◎滾石雜誌、紐約時報、芝加哥論壇報等權威傳媒給予高分好評新世代浪漫經典
◎Billboard暢銷原聲帶專輯榜亞軍、獨立專輯榜第4名，2007年愛爾蘭電影獎最佳電影音樂提名
一個男孩遇見一個女孩，他們對彼此唱著美麗的歌，浪漫就此蔓延開來。【曾經擁有】是一部以都柏林的街頭為背景的當代音樂愛情電影，影片描述一個街頭音樂家與一個捷克移民的女孩一起譜寫，排練，灌錄一首首記錄著他們的愛情故事的歌曲。影片自2007年春季在全球各地映演後廣受國際影展與影評人熱烈迴響，先後在日舞影展、都柏林國際影展中勇奪觀眾票選獎，美國滾石雜誌影評形容本片是「一部絕對值得看上好幾回的美妙電影」，紐約時報稱讚這是一部「幾近完美」的作品，芝加哥論壇報表示:「這可能是這個世代最棒的音樂片。」
Hansard是愛爾蘭搖滾樂團The Frames的創始團長/主唱/吉他手，13歲時就輟學，開始在都柏林的街頭走唱，他在1990年組成The Frames樂團，與Island唱片公司簽下唱片合約，在取得唱片合約後沒多久，Hansard贏得了在名導亞倫派克所執導的音樂片「追夢者」(The Commitments)演出的機會，全球影迷透過他所飾演的吉他手Outspan Foster一角的演出，注意到他的音樂才華，而他的The Frames樂團持續發表專輯作品，並四處作巡迴演唱，他們剛在2006年發表近作「The Cost」，Hansard同時也在這一年與本片的女主角Irglova合作了個人的首張專輯「The Swell Season」。
出生於捷克的Irglova在7歲的時候就開始接受鋼琴課程的訓練，9歲的時候轉而勤練吉他彈奏，就在Hansard到布拉格來訪期間，兩人結下動人的音樂緣分，進而合作了一張專輯。
本片導演John Carney曾經在1991-93年間擔任The Frames樂團的貝斯手，後來轉居幕後，負責拍攝樂團的音樂錄影帶，也曾編導了愛爾蘭電視史上頗受歡迎的影集「Bachelors Walk」以及由Cillian Murphy主演的電影「On The Edge」。
本片另一首 MIND'S MADE UP
So, if you want something
And you call, call
Then I'll come running
To fight and I'll be at your door
When there's nothing worth running for
When your mind's made up
When your mind's made up
There's no point trying to change it
When your mind's made up
When your mind's made up
There's no point trying to stop it, you see
You're just like everyone
When the shit falls
All you wanna do is run away
And hide all by yourself
When there's far from, there's nothing else
When your mind's made up
When your mind's made up
There's no point trying to change it
When your mind's made up
When your mind's made up
There's no point even talking
When your mind's made up
When your mind's made up
There's no point trying to fight it
When your mind's, your mind
Love, love
There's no point trying to change it
When your love
So if you ever want something
And you call, call
【Once】後來不只是曾經，還有 The Swell season
In 2008, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova captivated audiences and earned two Academy Awards for their musical collaboration in the film 'Once'. As their fictional romance blurred with reality they fell in love, recorded an album, and embarked on a world.
The world fell in love with Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová when their songwriting collaboration in the film Once (2006) culminated in a jubilant Oscar win. But behind the scenes, where Glen and Mar's on-screen romance became reality, a grueling two-year world tour threatens to fracture their fated bond. Filmed in black and white, this music-filled documentary is an intimate look at the exhilaration and turmoil created by both love and fame.
