The Gas Station Attendant

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The Gas Station Attendant

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1h 23m

Documentary

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94%

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16 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

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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Alissa Wilkinson

New York Times

Jun 15

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.

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Namrata Joshi

The New Indian Express

06/26/2025

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.

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Jefferson Everest Crawford

In Review Online

Jun 19

Formally competent as a documentary, occasionally poetic though often rather rote in its movements, but astoundingly generous as a personal document.

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Charles Johnston

Spectrum Culture

Jun 18

The Gas Station Attendant is a loving tribute to a friendly man and a touching exploration of his restless spirit that in the end feels like a polished home video accompanied by poetic narration.

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Sarah Ward

AWFJ.org

Jun 17

The entirety of this perceptive movie is a catalyst ... an intensely honest, astute and affecting film.

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Ben Glidden

Film Threat

Jun 15

8.5/10

Murthy doesn’t just tell the audience a story; she opens up a portal into her own soul. It’s rare that you leave a documentary feeling like you really knew the subject, but Murthy translates her father’s warmth and determination so eloquently.

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Chance Maurice N

@Chance-Maurice Jun 19

Watching The Gas Station Attendant felt deeply personal and emotional for me. I experienced the journey of a father chasing a better life across countries, and a daughter trying to understand and honor that sacrifice, and it made me reflect on the quiet struggles many people carry every day; my joyful takeaway is that behind every ordinary job or face is a powerful story of resilience, love, and dreams, reminding me to appreciate people more and value the unseen efforts that shape our lives and communities.

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Samir B.

@samtheman28 Jun 14

One of the most beautifully made personal films you’ll see. Wonderfully told through archival footage and the directors storytelling. The producers did an amazing job! Would recommend a thousand times over.

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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

The Gas Station Attendant: Trailer 1

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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