20^th Century Fox / Widescreen / 86 minutes

A heartbroken guitar player meets a beautiful keyboardist and the two gallivant about Dublin becoming friends, making music and recording songs for a demo CD after which the guy heads to London seeking his fortune and the girl reconciles with her estranged husband.

Longest Music Video Ever: The Irish guy (Glen Hansard) and the Czech girl (Marketa Irglova) spend the entire movie singing full-length versions of songs they’ve recorded together in real life. This works as a film (for me anyway) because the music is so melodic and well performed.

Lost in Translation Part 2: Follows the same schematic as Sofia Coppola’s film starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson – a slice of the lives of two people who meet, bond and part ways forever.

Money Well Spent: The budget was 100K according to director John Carney and the production used long lenses so as to not inhibit the performance of non-actors Hansard and Irglova.

Here’s the Shame: In real life Hansard, 37, is now dating Irglova, 19 (an 18 year age gap). In interviews Hansard has said he met her six years ago and has been falling in love with her ever since. Jailbait anyone?

For it’s genius simplicity and bitter-sweet tunes (and perhaps because it’s shameful that I included this film on our site) ONCE gets all four of my stars: Shamefully Choice!