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Unbelievable to believe I guess but I'm always happy to entertain what are considered to be "modern musicals". Recent cinema release Once certainly falls under this category, it's not a conventional musical by any means, but it's the most featured part of this movie. Once is a baffling film in the sense that its neither good nor bad, what it is however is one of those movies that passes the time and sticks in your mind, and while at times during the movie I asked myself what the hell I was doing watching it, nearly 24 hours later I find myself looking fondly upon the piece, almost as if it was the greatest work of art ever put to film.

Set in Dublin Guy (Glen Hansard best known as the front man for Irish group The Frames) spends his days busking on the streets, singing songs that people know. By night he still busks but now singing his own compositions, hoping to reach out and touch that one person. What it does do is reach out to a Czechoslovakian migrant worker known throughout the movie as Girl (Marketa Irglova), who bombards Guy with a series of questions about the origins of his songs. In conversation Guy reveals that he also works as a vacuum cleaner repair man, Girl in turn returns the following day broken vacuum in hand.

What begins is a friendship, Guy's music the basis for that friendship. Both have seemingly lost something, and both have the need for a little companionship in their lives. The friendship has a positive effect on Guy, as he finds new words to fit the songs that were once just musical compositions; and Girl is a significant contributor to this creative process putting words to the songs he lacks the compassion to do.

This storm in a teacup movie or rather storm in a thimble is really charming, all the characters throughout are charming, there is never once the hint of anything bad. The film plays out very much like a Irish version of Sophia Coppola Lost In Translation, the relationship between the couple wanting for more, but varying restrictions not allowing it.

Initially I did not find anything of interest in the music, which is such a key factor in the movies success; and personally I think when looking at a musical that's an important place to start. But as the movie goes on you become more accustomed to the films musical offerings, and I found myself enjoying them more or more. Once specific song which is played three times during the movie, (having had Girl find the inspiration for the words) was the thing playing in my head this morning when I awoke.

The performers in the movie are very good, Glen Hansard instantly a face you recognise especially if you have seen (in my view) abysmal Commitments. He is a really believable and convincing actor, who exudes the kindness he eventually shows to Marketa's character. As for Marketa well this newcomer actress with absolutely no acting experience is a real gem, she is absolutely lovely to watch. Totally convincing, with an initially hidden beauty; a beauty that becomes more obvious as the movie progresses.

The storyline is incredibly thin, and if you took the music out it would scarcely fill the space of a 15 minute short movie. And I must confess I have probably spilled too much of the storyline, or certainly more than I should have; but sometimes it's a necessity to tell more.

What is interesting for someone that has never ventured across the water to Ireland, even despite once being married to a Dublin lass; is the look and feel of Dublin. We in England (well those that never venture to Ireland) probably have a very stereotypical view of Ireland. This movie shows what I hope to think Dublin looks like, very cosmopolitan in his cultural build up, with some interesting almost Eastern European looking building mixed in with some typically traditional structures. A mix of the traditional looking with the dramatically untraditional; and if Once can be commended for one thing then I guess it's a really good advert promoting a visit to Ireland.

Once is not a bad film, in fact to some degree it's positively inspired; but this is not a film I'd actively encourage a cinema viewing for, neither is it something I'd recommend buying on DVD (scheduled for a release Spring 2008). However when it arrives on UK TV, which I have a suspicion it will within a year, it's something you really should see, rather like marmite you could either love or hate it.

Learn more about this author, Spencer Hawken.
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