Drenched in heartfelt lyrics, earnest emotions, in-tune instruments, and harmonious vocals, Once is a breathtaking compilation of song and raw sentiment. This Irish musical, with a $100K budget and a $9 million gross, is an ideal motion picture from beginning to end. Incidentally, Once instantly earns the titles of one of my all-time favorite films and the best musical ever composed.

After finishing a day’s work at his father’s vacuum repair shop, an unnamed Guy (Glen Hansard) plays his guitar and sings for coin on the streets of Dublin. In between selling flowers, cleaning houses, and taking care of her mother and daughter, an unnamed Girl (Marketa Irglova) plays the piano and sings in a local music store. When this brokenhearted street musician and kindhearted Czech unite, they establish an indelible connection through song.

Over a one week time period, the Guy and Girl write, perform, and record music in hopes of garnering a record deal. Throughout the process, both sort out their past relationships and express their mutual feelings lyrically. Listen closely, because the essence of the story is told in their pitch-perfect harmonies.

With its soundtrack expertly woven into the storyline, Once features 13 original tunes that will inspire you to not only purchase the CD, but also learn the notes, strum them on a guitar, and sing along. Among the best are “Falling Slowly,” “Your Mind’s Made Up,” “Say It to Me Now,” “Lies,” “Trying to Pull Myself Away,” “The Hill,” and “Once.” The voices are delicately smooth; the lyrics are simplistically poignant; the passion is exhaustingly genuine; and the performances are achingly intimate.

More than a musical, Once is a beautiful story of love — not a romance, but rather a play on the bond between two hearts and their unexplainable zeal for bringing notes on a staff to life. By pouring out their emotions on paper, guitar, and piano, the Guy and Girl discover where they belong and achieve brilliant, artistic expression. Additionally, both characters coexist as muses to aim high and follow their individual dreams.

To say that the radiant account of the Guy and Girl is entirely fictional is inaccurate. Considering writer/director John Carney resided in Dublin, maintained a long distance relationship with his girlfriend living in London, and played in a band (called The Frames) led by Once’s own Glen Hansard, the creative influences are obvious. The cherry on top is that the featured flashback footage (during “Lies”) actually depicts John Carney’s girlfriend as Guy’s girlfriend.

Through its factual inspiration, charm, poise, and talent, Once is not your typical, lavish, song-and-dance musical. Instead, it is a window into two musically inclined personalities that shine brighter when their outlet of artistic energy is exercised in tandem. Above all, Once courageously debunks any “once” I do this or that excuses, and heartens its viewers to transform their ambitions into realities. Watch Once more than what the title calls for.