Synopsis

Mirabelle, a lonely sales clerk and aspiring artist in Los Angeles, becomes involved with Ray, a wealthy older man who offers sophistication and financial security without emotional commitment. Her life changes again when Jeremy, an immature but sincere young man, enters the picture. Caught between comfort, affection, and independence, Mirabelle must decide what kind of love and life she truly wants.

Factoids & Trivia

• Steve Martin wrote the screenplay from his own 2000 novella, adapting a story that had originally been told through highly internalized prose and limited dialogue.

• The production received cooperation from Saks Fifth Avenue, whose Beverly Hills store appears as Mirabelle's workplace.

• The film's visual style was shaped by cinematographer Peter Suschitzky and was photographed in the widescreen 2.35:1 format using anamorphic Panavision equipment.

• Composer Barrington Pheloung created the score, which gives the film a melancholy, classically tinged atmosphere rather than emphasizing conventional romantic-comedy rhythms.

• Martin also served as one of the producers, making the project an unusually direct adaptation of his own literary work.

• The film earned nominations for the Satellite Awards' Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical and Best Adapted Screenplay, while Claire Danes and Jason Schwartzman also received acting nominations.

• Claire Danes won a Women's Image Network Award for her performance.

• The DVD release included a making-of featurette titled "Evolution of a Novella: The Making of Shopgirl."