Kwik Stop
Two strangers discover you really can find anything at a convenience store -- even love -- in this engaging independent romantic comedy. Mike (Michael Gilio) is an aspiring actor stuck in a small town who has big plans of moving to Hollywood so he can strike it rich. One night, while on his way into a corner store, he meets Didi (Lara Phillips), a pretty but aimless girl hanging out in the parking lot. Mike and Didi strike up a conversation, and she discovers there's a big dose of self-doubt lurking beneath his confident exterior. Mike, on the other hand, finds that the longer he talks to Didi, the more he finds himself thinking she might be a good reason to stick around. Kwik Stop was the debut feature from writer and director Michael Gilio, who also co-stars as Mike; the film premiered at the 2001 Los Angeles Film Festival.
Director: Michael Gilio
Starring: Michael Gilio, Rich Komenich, Lara Phillips
This is the movie to seek out.
This is the debut feature for Columbia College graduate Gilio, and it shows great promise.
The movie is about the interactions between these characters, and though I'm still trying to figure out what all the pieces mean, there's no way I can shake off the experience.
A screwball road movie set in a middle-of-nowhere town, Kwik Stop suggests "It Happened One Night" as reimagined by David Lynch or Hal Hartley.
Michael Gilio
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema (2002)
New Directors Competition
Chicago International Film Festival (2001)
Michael Gilio
Independent Spirit Awards (2002)
Michael Gilio
St. Louis International Film Festival (2002)
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