Only

I just saw the film ONLY in its Toronto theatrical release. Absolutely loved it. The film is gentle and loving and hopeful and magical and real. In the Q&A after the screening we learned that the film is 98% scripted and only 2% ad-lib but the actors are so natural that you really do leave the theatre feeling like you have spent the day with them. It reminds us about being 12 when we think that we are smarter than our parents but would rather roll around in fresh snow than talk about it. And that hint of a first love, when you meet someone who really gets you. The use of music is also perfect. The soundtrack is filled with Indie artists which rocks and rolls us through the film.

Great movie, I like the cinematic techniques used.. the movie was in a slower pace in the beginning, to me it symbolizes a budding friendship... the movie gets more lively towards the end, to me it also reflected the closer friendship of the 2 kids and getting acquainted to each other. Also, the way they use the ipod..in the beginning they are each in their own world, in the middle, they sometimes get out of their own little "music" world and interact with each other..at the end, they listen to each others' music.. to me it symbolizes they get into and became part of the other person's life.. it is so good about independent film. it leaves room for people's imagination.. I love the movie. Great soundtrack too! Great work Ingrid and Simon! I enjoyed the Q&A section at the end of the movie too! :)

Just saw Only for the second time and I am was just as moved as the first time I saw it.

The two leads, Elena and Jacob are totally believable as regular kids. At a time when children are becoming very self-conscious they provide raw performance that expose all sorts of embarrassing things to each other and the audience. The beauty of the story is found in the grace and ease that each character comes to accept the other for whom they are.

This beauty is supported by the wonderful cinematography that provides a magical landscape that children explore.

It is hard to imagine that many films will ever do as good a job of telling a story about this stage in childhood as Only does. It is just too hard to capture the actors between childhood and puberty. And it is equal has hard to avoid all the commercial clichés about how children should behave in film.

There is nothing in the movie to offend but the viewer must be prepared, like the children in the film to relax and just let things happen. The rewards for doing so are worth it.

I just had the wonderful privilege of viewing this beautiful "captured moment" film. Everything about it just clicked and resonated exquisitely. From the painfully true performances from the film's young leads (a feat in itself) to the simple yet hauntingly emotive cinematography. Keeping it simple is the script's biggest asset, focusing entirely on the mundanely beautiful moments in life. It captured the awkward and boring moments of growing up in a small town. This was such an inspiring film, showing me not only the power of simple, personal storytelling but also in the digital medium itself. I was very happy to have gotten the chance to see this film and I strongly urge others to do the same if they have the opportunity. It's honest film-making to it's very heart.

Lovely film, great to see life as a lonely kid in rural Ontario portrayed so accurately and beautifully. It reminded me of what it was like to be a kid trapped in the place where your parents put you, desperately searching for things that capture your interest, and finding only buzzing power lines, railway tracks and abandoned tennis courts.

The dialogue was simple and natural, as were the performances. The relationship between the two leads builds slowly and naturally. The audience at the screening I was at was made up of both adults and, and both groups seemed to enjoy it equally, which is not an easy thing to pull off. Hope to see more from everyone involved.