The Assistant (1997)

Daniel Petrie scripted and directed this CanadianBritish film an adaptation of the memorable 1957 Brooklynbased novel by Brooklynborn Bernard Malamud author of The Natural During the Depression drifter Frank Alpine Gil Bellows and hobo Ward Minogue Jaimz Woolvett rob the small Bober family grocery Minogue attacks frail Morris Bober Armin MuellerStahl because he has little money Later guilt sends Alpine back to the store where he goes unrecognized and is hired by Bober as an assistant despite the objections of Ida Bober Joan Plowright While Frank works the store receiving miniscule wages he falls for Bobers daughter Helen Kate Greenhouse and Morris eventually learns who Frank really is