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The Gas Station Attendant

Play trailer 2:02 Poster for The Gas Station Attendant Now Playing 1h 23m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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In The Gas Station Attendant, a daughter (of Filipino and South Asian descent) reflects on her South Asian father's life, his never-ending pursuit of the American dream, and the human capacity to love and survive. As a young boy, H.N. Shantha Murthy ran away from home to escape the extreme poverty of his Indian village. He travelled the country in search of work, holding onto the belief that one day his life would change. It did, following a serendipitous encounter with a Texan couple. With a sponsored visa, he travelled to the US, but his American Dream was not to be fulfilled. Karla Murthy's film weaves together home videos and phone conversations recorded during her father's stint as a gas station attendant, while also reflecting on her own identity as a first-generation American. What emerges is an intimate love letter -- a meditation on a complicated father-daughter relationship and a poignant tribute to the immigrant working class.
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The Gas Station Attendant

Critics Reviews

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Namrata Joshi The New Indian Express Jun 26
Purely as a documentary about family, it may not have the layers of Sarah Polley’s Stories We Tell but it makes up for it with its straightforward honesty and emotional acuity. Go to Full Review Christopher Campbell Nonfics (Substack) 1d
One of the appreciated rare documentaries of its kind, where it genuinely honors the parent rather than coming off as completely self-centered. Go to Full Review Soham Gadre The Film Stage 1d
The Gas Station Attendant carries the significant weight of relaying an important message about the American immigrant experience within a dangerously regressive political climate. Go to Full Review Louisa Moore Screen Zealots 2d
A touching tribute not just to one father, but to an entire generation of immigrants who spent their lives chasing opportunity. Go to Full Review Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru 5d
A genuinely heartfelt and candid documentary Go to Full Review Pat Mullen POV Magazine Jan 14
Particularly for audiences within the diverse mosaic of American families, these home movies offer stand-ins for the countless stories that often go untold, but are no less meaningful in our personal and shared histories. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
The Gas Station Attendant

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Cast & Crew

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Karla Murthy

Director

Karla Murthy

Screenwriter

Rajal Pitroda

Producer

Carrie Lozano

Executive Producer

Geeta Gandbhir

Executive Producer

Rekha Malhotra

Executive Producer
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The Gas Station Attendant

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Movie Info

Synopsis In The Gas Station Attendant, a daughter (of Filipino and South Asian descent) reflects on her South Asian father's life, his never-ending pursuit of the American dream, and the human capacity to love and survive. As a young boy, H.N. Shantha Murthy ran away from home to escape the extreme poverty of his Indian village. He travelled the country in search of work, holding onto the belief that one day his life would change. It did, following a serendipitous encounter with a Texan couple. With a sponsored visa, he travelled to the US, but his American Dream was not to be fulfilled. Karla Murthy's film weaves together home videos and phone conversations recorded during her father's stint as a gas station attendant, while also reflecting on her own identity as a first-generation American. What emerges is an intimate love letter -- a meditation on a complicated father-daughter relationship and a poignant tribute to the immigrant working class.
Director
Karla Murthy
Producer
Rajal Pitroda
Screenwriter
Karla Murthy
Distributor
Greene Fort Productions
Production Co
Greene Fort Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 12, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 23m