Art House Theater Day Programming Fellow and Documentary Filmmaker, Alissa Simone will introduce the screening

When I think of Car Wash, it fills me with absolute joy—it’s hip, funky, and timeless. This film was a literal staple on my family’s television screen, a ritual of laughter and music that brought us all together. I think of my mom, my aunt Lisa, my dad, and my Papa, dancing and singing along to Rose Royce’s “I Wanna Get Next to You.”

Car Wash is a hilariously absurd film that rightfully earned its cult status, and it also marks the beginning of the legendary Bill Duke’s career as the Godfather of Black Cinema. I love the chaotic energy of the car wash setting, but beneath the humor lies a sharp commentary on being undermined and underpaid by a leechlike system—all while finding ways to make light of life’s toughest moments. It’s a perfect balance of light and heavy, a mirror to the ups and downs we all navigate.