Gas Food Lodging
Directed by Allison Anders

“Subtly etched characters, effortlessly fine performances, and a moving story that is not easily forgotten.” —Janet Maslin, New York Times

Adapted from the novel Don’t Look and It Won’t Hurt by Richard Peck, Allison Anders (Grace of My Heart) whipped up a storm at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival with her masterfully crafted tale of a young woman trying to find love while struggling to bring up her two daughters.

Abandoned by her husband, Nora (Brooke Adams) waitresses to keep her head above water while raising two teenagers in a small New Mexico town trailer park. Beautiful and rebellious, Trudi (Ione Skye) quits school to work alongside her mother, while her sister Shade (Fairuza Balk) whittles away her time watching old movie matinees. Their life is turned on its head when Trudi finds that she has fallen pregnant after a string of promiscuous relationships and the girl’s absent father returns with hopes of mending the relationship he broke when he left. A wonderfully engaging story of the woes of teenagers reaching adulthood, Gas Food Lodging is a distinctly American portrayal of a mother trying to raise two wayward teens with growing pains, who are learning about love, life and each other. 1992, U.S., 35mm, 101 minutes.

Includes a post-screening discussion between Ashland, KY-born director Allison Anders and film enthusiast and Louisville fixture Tracy Heightchew.