Less like a H'wood or B'way musical; more like a low-key concert film with a story line

Rating: 9/10 (6 August 2007)

I saw "Once" a few days ago, and I loved it. I recommended it to my brother and his wife, both of whom are musicians. My sister-in-law read favorable reviews for the film and wants to see it. She tried to explain it to my brother, but he was put off by the "musical" category. I hope that my description of the film helps her quest to take her to the local art-house cinema to check it out. Here goes:
It's an Irish indie film that centers around a couple of musicians working crummy jobs in Dublin and trying to mend their respective broken hearts. I recommend it highly, especially to those who enjoy raw, engaging musical performances.
What if the film "Woodstock" were re-imagined as a conversation between Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell? One scene might show two cats frolicking in their yard as she gathers flowers. That evening, he lights a fire, and she places in a vase that he had purchased earlier that day. Then, he sits at the piano and composes "Our House". Later, he heads off to Woodstock. She belongs at Woodstock, too, but she has to forgo the concert altogether as she's been booked on "The Dick Cavett Show". After bantering with Dick and playing a few tunes on TV, what if she takes a cab home, pulls out her guitar and composes the song "Woodstock", and the cab driver is the sole member of her audience?
"Once" is rather like that.
But in Dublin.