25. ONCE
 
Ireland
dir. John Carney
world premiere 2006
U.S. release 2007
 

 
Because with "real" indie film culture closer than ever to death's door, at least in terms of reaching an audience, Once feels like an awfully rare gift. Building a movie atop an untested song is even harder than it looks, but the long takes, unbeautified light, and anecdotal, romantic construction make the film's form and its feeling impossible to separate.