DVD Review: “Once” * * * 1/2

The bare beauty of “Once” is that it is a musical that never feels like a musical. This story about a Dublin busker (Glen Hansard of the Irish band The Frames) and an Eastern European pianist (Marketa Irglova) unfolds with such natural, unforced grace, it almost feels like director John Carney is eavesdropping. And since the story involves songwriters working on heartfelt music, “Once” never has that unreal “spontaneous song and dance” element so intrinsic to most musicals.

“Guy” and “girl” never do tell us their names as they go from being strangers to becoming collaborators, friends and potential soul mates. Still, as the relationship develops through Carney’s careful, documentary-like storytelling, it becomes clear that “Once” is not a fairy tale romance. But it is as lyrical as the sweet and sad music Hansard and Irglova create together.

 There is an inevitability to “Once” that makes the film even more magical: before he was a director, Carney was the original bassist for The Frames. One year after Hansard started that group, he acted in his only role prior to “Once,” playing in the Irish soul band fable, “The Commitments.” And Irglova and Hansard are now a couple after having met through music. For “Once,” a musical reflects real life and love.