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 !
