Only

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.

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! :)

This is a sweet movie that grows on you as you watch it. I encouraged my friends to see it with me, and all of them enjoyed it very much as well. Its storyline is simple, but it is played out so flawlessly well that it is much better than many movies with more intricate plots. It's a thoughtful meditation on the lives of two lonely adolescents who, for a day, have the chance to experience a powerful connection between themselves and someone else, a chance, the movie makes clear, that neither of them have too often. As they traipse around the Perry Sound area, discussing everything from whether books are better than movies to their deepest fears, we have the privilege to see their friendship slowly, tentatively and very realistically develop. Watch this movie! It is an absolute treat.

The first time I saw Only, I spent hours afterwords wrapped safely in the knowledge that to be human in this world is an almost unbearably sweet and precious thing.

The second time I saw Only, I found myself having a physical reaction, feeling nervousness and excitement of a sort that I haven't had since I was as young as the leads.

I look forward to seeing the film a third time, and many times thereafter.

If you still have any room left in your heart for honesty, innocence and wonder, this is a film worth investigating. That description sounds trite and saccharine, but it's meant with unflinching honesty.

This doesn't even touch on specifics yet, but rest assured that the cinematography, acting, and soundtrack are all perfectly aligned with what I've said above, both in terms of quality and aesthetic.

There is an unwavering beauty underlying all things, and I take this film as proof.

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.