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Gaz Bar Blues

Play trailer Poster for Gaz Bar Blues 2003 1h 55m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
François Brochu (Serge Thériault) is "The Boss" -- the manager of a Montreal gas station trying to strengthen his bond with his sons while maintaining his business. He faces a multitude of problems, including thefts, hold-ups and unreliable clients. His family life has been complicated: After the death of his wife, he raised his three sons, (Sébastien Delorme, Danny Gilmore, Maxime Dumontier), who are now reluctant to take over his business despite the onset of his Parkinson's disease.

Critics Reviews

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Ray Conlogue Globe and Mail 02/12/2004
3/4
A small gem. Go to Full Review
Peter Howell Toronto Star 02/11/2004
3/5
There isn't much of a story to Gaz Bar Blues, but there's a wealth of understanding of the human condition. Go to Full Review
Dan Sallitt Senses of Cinema 10/17/2018
A nostalgic story of a family-owned gas station... [director Louis] Bélanger's film plays just a little cute, but is perceptive and light-footed in sketching the anxiety of the benevolent paterfamilias. Go to Full Review
Walter Chaw Film Freak Central 09/02/2004
3/4
It cares enough about its creations to forgive a multitude of sins. Go to Full Review
Liz Braun Jam! Movies 02/11/2004
3.5/5
Despite the small canvas, Gaz Bar Blues manages to take on the universe. Go to Full Review
Kim Linekin eye WEEKLY 02/11/2004
3/4
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Audience Reviews

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10/17/2018 Change is a major theme in Gaz Bar Blues. The question of the need as well as the acceptance of change. The film, in its subtlety, gently unfolds a story. The life of each person has always been centered around the gaz bar. Change is a foreign concept, especially to Brochu, the "Boss," as the owner has been dubbed. His family (including the regulars of the gaz bar) have always depended on his maintenance of the status quo. This becomes even more challenging as change occurs within and without. The eldest son, Réjean, decides he needs a change of pace and heads to Berlin during the fall of the Wall. The inspector discuses how the gaz bar needs to change to keep up with company standards as well as the development of their self-serve competitors. The second oldest son, Guy, finds change in a new path with the harmonica and his blues band, which leads him to neglect his work at the gaz bar. The Boss, in his age, finds his physical health changing because of Parkinson's. I could go on but with these examples but you can see how the reality and inevitability of change affects these characters. They each go about these changes in their own way and this is how much of the story is revealed to us as the viewer. These questions, ones without simple answers, are posed and how they are answered reflects us and how we deal the pressure and inevitability of change. The result is an enjoyable and thought-provoking piece of cinema. See more 11/13/2015 This could be the best Canadian film ever made. Quietly gripping throughout, it makes small town life the stuff of great drama--and in a surprising but wonderfully effective way, brings in world affairs (the fall of the Berlin wall and the end of Communism) as well. Great direction, great acting--superb throughout.. See more 08/23/2012 Touching and beautiful See more 06/06/2012 Le cinéma québécois, c'est comme le bon vin. Faut apprendre à l'aimer pour pouvoir le savourer pleinement. See more 05/28/2010 [img]http://www.eclecticdvd.com/images/VSC1269DVD.jpg[/img] Simple, yet effective. Couple of holes here and there though. [img]http://citaya.dyndns.org/~citaya/JapanesePosters/V/VisitorQ.jpg[/img] Look, I'll get it out of the way: This is probably Miike's most messed up movie I've seen. Yup. Even worse than Ichi. The main problem is, it's incredibely [b][i]BORING [/i][/b]in the middle. Very well nearly put me to sleep. That being said, the last part is downright incredible. Once the visitor starts milking the mother (you read right), this thing gets really great. [img]http://membres.lycos.fr/nosvedettes/images/clegaultgrand/gaz_bar_blues_affiche.jpg[/img] The story of a father trying to hold his family together after his wife dies while running his business along with his sons. Great performances and dialogues and the "regulars" (a bunch of lazy wealthfare receiving old dudes who spend their days doing nothing) are all absolutely priceless. Touching without ever being an oestrogen fest. See more 03/12/2009 relations père-fils expliquées avec brio, Thériault émouvant et frappant. Un film beau. See more Read all reviews
Gaz Bar Blues

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Movie Info

Synopsis François Brochu (Serge Thériault) is "The Boss" -- the manager of a Montreal gas station trying to strengthen his bond with his sons while maintaining his business. He faces a multitude of problems, including thefts, hold-ups and unreliable clients. His family life has been complicated: After the death of his wife, he raised his three sons, (Sébastien Delorme, Danny Gilmore, Maxime Dumontier), who are now reluctant to take over his business despite the onset of his Parkinson's disease.
Director
Louis Bélanger
Producer
Lorraine Dufour
Screenwriter
Louis Bélanger
Production Co
Société de Développement des Entreprises Culturelles (SODEC), Canadian Television Fund, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC), Radio Canada Télévision, Téléfilm Canada, Les Productions 23 Inc., Super Ecran, Coop Vidéo de Montréal, Quebec Film and Television Tax Credit
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
Canadian French
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Surround