Once

“Once,” a small independent film that has gained in popularity through word of mouth, is a modern day musical where the songs are woven into the fabric of the plot. Director John Carney tells the story of a Dublin street musician and his relationship with a kindred spirit, a young woman who hears his songs and compels him to record them. Although the chemistry between them is palpable, they remain platonic friends. He is going to London after the girlfriend who moved away and she has a husband in the Czech Republic. Nonetheless, you can see their true feelings for each other whenever they sing. The dozen or so songs in this movie were written and performed by the two leads and “Once” won the 2007 audience award at the Sundance Film Festival. “Once” doesn’t have the glitz of “Hairspray,” but it’s worth seeing. (8/5/07)