Shopgirl (2005)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12

Mirabelle (Claire Danes) is a quiet observer of life, with even her job symbolic of her life thus far. An employee of an upscale department store, she stands behind a counter of gloves that no one buys. No one, that is, until wealthy businessman Ray Porter (Steve Martin) stops by, goes through the motions of deciding what color to buy, and then that evening sends the gloves to Mirabelle’s door, along with an invitation to dinner. Ray makes no pretense of their relationship leading to marriage. He is wealthy and wants a charming, attractive companion, at fancy restaurants, as a traveling companion, and in bed. Mirabelle has another man interested in her, Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman), unlike the 35 years older Ray, her own age. However, their first date turns out to be a date from hell, with the always hard up for cash Jeremy expecting her to go Dutch on everything. His attempt to seduce her is just as bumbling and objectionable.With whom will she wind up? The answer is not as simple as it is in most romantic films. Indeed there is a bittersweet taste at the end of the film, one brought out by the sad plight of a man who cannot give love because he –well, the film does not try to answer this, but simply suggests that this is the way some of us are.