Gas, Food Lodging (1992)

In the boring desert of New Mexico, a single mother raises her two teenage daughters, Shade and Trudi, whose deepest desire is to leave the dead calm town. Shade is the type to escape in ... See full summary »

Director:

Allison Anders

Writers:

Richard Peck (novel), Allison Anders (screenplay)

Stars:

Brooke Adams, Ione Skye, Fairuza Balk

3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brooke Adams	...	Nora
Ione Skye	...	Trudi
Fairuza Balk	...	Shade
James Brolin	...	John Evans
Robert Knepper	...	Dank
David Lansbury	...	Hamlet Humphrey (as David Landsbury)
Jacob Vargas	...	Javier
Donovan Leitch	...	Darius
Chris Mulkey	...	Raymond
Laurie O'Brien	...	Thelma
Julie Condra	...	Tanya
Adam Biesk	...	Brett
Leigh Hamilton	...	Kim
Diane Behrens	...	Hostess
J. Mascis	...	Cecil (as J Mascis)

Storyline

In the boring desert of New Mexico, a single mother raises her two teenage daughters, Shade and Trudi, whose deepest desire is to leave the dead calm town. Shade is the type to escape in her extravagant fantasies while Trudi is so rebelious it could drive her away.

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Plot Keywords:

single mother | desert | new mexico | nudity | teenage girl | 

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Taglines:

When Shade's good, she's very good. But when Trudi's bad, she's better.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

10 July 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bencin, hrana in prenocisce

Filming Locations:

Deming, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$1,345,236 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineville

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Supermodel Yasmin Le Bon appears in posters during the film as Elvia Rivera, the Mexican movie star.

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Goofs

When Trudi first attempts to call her dad in the beginning of the movie, the dolly can be seen in the toaster oven.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Shade: If it weren't for Elvia Rivero, this story wouldn't even be worth telling. Whenever Elvia came to this litte town, well, it's like she woke the place up. My home town, Laramie New Mexico, it came alive. Elvia Rivero was the one who made me laugh when I needed to laugh. She made me cry when no one was looking. But most of all, Elvia was able to put into to words what I was thinking.It was Elvia who first gave me the idea. It was decided then and there, I knew what was missing from ...

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Connections

Referenced in A Decade Under the Influence (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Burial"
Written and Performed by Mr. Boyd Rice

User Reviews

An American Movie with a Continental Feel

Allison Anders motivation in making this film may be obscure, but I'm glad she made it. This, her debut feature, runs like a meandering stream through rivulets of teenage angst and single-mother frustration in small town New Mexico. Maybe its' the Mexico bit that made this movie seem more foreign than traditional action-based, marketing-oriented, formulaic American movies.

I'd heard the term "trailer trash" via Jerry Springer and guests, but this female family of free (alright, forget the alliteration - three) are far from "trash", just down on their luck. The mother, Brooke Adams is a waitress on a low income trying to bring up her girls; the older one, Ione Skye, discovers through a fraternisation with a gallant, geologically quizzical Englishman (for once, not Hugh Grant), that relationships beat one night stands.

Ione's brother, Donovan Leitch, also appears in this film, but it is Fairuza Balk as the younger teenager, who is outstanding. She wants the best for her mother, which she has difficulty in securing, but her film-buff instincts and a predilection for Spanish movies, enable her to find fulfilment for herself.

The movie concludes in a somewhat enigmatic manner without all loose endings tied up. But hey, when in life are any loose endings tied up? Our end, like this film's, leave us wanting more.