The Gas Station Attendant

Murthy cobbles that footage together into a heartfelt, personal portrait of her relationship with her father. She chronicles his journey to America from India and his turbulent quest for a successful, stable life.

Murthy’s story as a child of immigrants is not particularly unique. But her film is engrossing because of the rich tapestry of sources she draws on.

Murthy’s relationship with her father is sweet and open, filling the movie with a rare warmth that comes from sincerity and a willingness to share vulnerable moments. If the immigrant experience says anything about the fabric of this country, it is found in those moments of exposure, where the country feels open to opportunity but is hiding many webs and many spiders.