Gaz Bar Blues

Gaz Bar Blues is a good movie, maybe with some dull parts on the way but reminescent of how great these "full service" gas stations were in the past... And how the past clash with present realities...

The "Boss", Serge Theriault, wants to keep the business going on despite a developping Parkinson disease, threatening competition from Self serve stations and how to transfer his business to his three boys. But there's a problem: one wants to go to Berlin to witness the fall of the Wall (we're in 1989), the other wants to play music and the younger one wants to give a try, despite the fact he's 14...

The Gaz Bar is also a meeting place of all kins here, conflicting egos from a quarter-begging tramp to a not-so-stupid blind person, along with a petty thief who uses the gas bar sink as a toilet bowl, a desperate loser who never had a chance with a girl and some wise cracking employees... Add along the cheap customers, the thieves committing hold-ups and the annoying Champlain concession inspector and you got a fine movie here...

Well written, a bit long in some parts and excellent acting. Plus reminescence that the story is based in Quebec city (though it was shot in Montreal), we see the old NHL logo of the Nordiques...

Fact: Champlain was a real gas bar chain in the past, which was bought later by Imperial Oil (Esso), and used to give Expo 67 drinking glasses with each fill-up !

So enjoy the meeting place !

François "The Boss" Brochu is 55, he has Parkinson's disease, he cares for his three sons, good youths who have their respective maturity problems, and he modestly earns a living by running a gas station, or "gas bar", of a species that is going the way of the dodo. That gas bar is where a few misfits spend their days, like the pillars in a tavern. Will the sons continue the business when their father is too ill to carry on? Every character's future is at the end of the present day, unless... It could have been a bland film, a minor soap opera, but it is not. The actors' direction is superb, and the story is sensible. The misfits could have been caricatured, but they were not; they are all sympathetic and flawed human beings, which gives an interesting look into the mystery of humanity. People like that exist, they are real, I have met them in poor neighbourhoods. The Boss is a decent person for his sons and everyone else. He knows his end is coming, and that his sons are still unprepared. Having lost all illusions, what is he to do?

A charming family drama- Gaz Bar Blues examines the struggles of an independent gas station (Gaz Bar), the family who runs it, and the people who frequent it.

Bélanger weaves together the lives of an endearing cast of characters to create a story that reveals honest truths about the human condition. Mr. Brochu's (known as The Boss) struggle with Parkinsons and his son's waning interest in the family business, eldest son Réjean's dissatisfaction with his life at the Gaz Bar, middle brother Guy's dreams of becoming a musician and youngest brother Alain's desire to be seen as as an adult, and many more aspirations you follow the characters working to achieve all form a compelling personal drama.

With a supporting cast of unique and equally lovable characters, it is a delightful film that offers a window into Quebecois life.

Could be based on a true story. It's real life drama. The owner of a little independent gas station tries to make life better for his 4 grown-ups. But life's not easy when you have too much of a big heart. Being too good isn't always helpful.

I just loved the characters in this film. My favorite one is Mr. Savard, one of the guys who hang out at the gas bar. It's a picture taken of a real life small business in a low income neighborhood of Montréal. Serge Thériault is doing a good job, as usual.

Out of 100, I gave it 82. That's good for *** out of ****.

Seen in Toronto, at the Royal Cinema, on February 7th, 2004.