Once

This is a lovely, eccentric and very musical film set in Dublin. Writer and director John Carney says he set out to make a “visual album” – and the songs play as important a role in the film as the dialogue.

The story revolves around the chance meeting of an Irish busker – who has a day job fixing vacuum cleaners with his dad – and a young impoverished Czech woman who has moved to the city with her mother and her young child.

The film follows them through the city and beyond as they get to know each other and share music and dilemmas together.

Sounds corny? It could have been, but the humour and unpretentious performances make it thoroughly enjoyable.

Once
Directed by John Carney
Film out now