With the smell of shamrock shakes in the air, St. Patrick’s Day is near. That makes it the ideal time for all things Irish, movies included.

On Thursday, lil’ ol’ Norman plays host to the 2012 Puterbaugh Festival of International Literature & Culture’s Irish Film Festival. From 12:45 to 4 p.m., one Oscar-winning movie and two 15-minute shorts will unspool in Meacham Auditorium on the University of Oklahoma campus. 

Kicking it off is 2006’s Once, a musical love story that remains one of the 10 best movies I saw last decade, and whose soundtrack forever is imprinted on my brain. Seriously, this film gives me goose bumps each time I see it. Once won the Best Original Song Academy Award for “Falling Slowly” — a victory that had me cheering from my living room.

Also showing are The Crush (not to be confused with 1993’s wretched Alicia Silverstone jailbait thriller; this one was up for an Oscar) and The Other Life, which are about, respectively, a 8-year-old fawning over his teacher and a wealthy woman realizing money ain’t all that.

Admission is free. For more information, call 325-4531 or visit worldliteraturetoday.com. Also be sure to check out the Puterbaugh Festival's Opening Night festivities, which include free a free concert from local musicians. —Rod Lott