Only

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 really loved this movie. The two main actors were amazing, especially Jacob Switzer, his style was so natural and believable. What's amazing about this film is that they made a beautiful moving story on a minimal budget, minimal cast, no lights and hand held cameras. It really captures the essence of what it's like to be 12 and the loneliness of that time of change and growth, but not only the loneliness but also the beauty of making a new friend and the slow sweet discovery that happens. The soundtrack is AMAZING and I really hope that it's available for sale at some point, so good! I also really love the use of the natural scenery in this film and the isolation of living in a tourist destination off season.

This movie took me back to my first 'almost' kiss with Toby Kiesewalter at family music camp when I was 13 and he was 11... Oh the memories...

The film moves slowly, leaving the audience to wonder. Rich, beautiful, tender and distinctly Canadian.

Had the pleasure of watching the film at the Okanagan International Film Festival, walking out of the theatre I began a conversation with a man who did not speak English very well. He said he had never seen movies like the ones being shown (The Baby Formula, Only) that night. He continued to try to find a way to explain how he felt towards these Independent Canadian films, saying they could not be easily categorized. "Ultra-realism" was what he said finally, asking me if these words made sense. I assured him that they did and for Only, it was a perfect description.

I just got back from a screening of 'Only' and I must say, I was mightily impressed.

This quiet little film deserves all the accolades and praise bestowed upon it. For starters, the film's two young stars Jacob Switzer and Elena Hudgins Lyle come across so naturally that it's hard to believe the film was scripted - the story literally jumps from the faces and voices of it's 12 and 13 year old stars.

Kudos to all, especially for the two first-time writers/directors (long-time Canadian actors Ingrid Veninger and Simon Reynolds) who pulled off a deceptively simple little gem.

Another feather in the cap for Canadian film.

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.