The Streetsweeper (2002)

Veteran Broadway star Paul Michael delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as Enzo Morelli, a cheerful sweeper driver who, decades earlier, gave up a promising career as an opera singer to support his wife and young son, Joey--the first of many sacrifices to follow. Today, Enzo lives a life of near-poverty, having long since cashed in his pension and sold most of his belongings to put Joey through Harvard in fulfillment of a promise made to his dying wife. But he takes it all in stride because Joey (Michael Cavalieri), due home soon for a visit, is about to graduate. There's just one hitch--Joey still believes that scholarships paid his way.