Bootblack

In 1935 New York, Al, son of German immigrants, struggles to survive as a bootblack. He and his friend Shiny get caught up with Diddle Joe and a local crime boss, and Al falls for the unattainable Maggie. Determined to escape poverty, Al makes a fateful decision that binds him to a life of crime.

Ten years later, Al is a soldier on the German front, haunted by memories of his past. As war rages, Al confronts his demons and seeks...