ABOUT THE FILM

• Logline: An ode to New York's Penn Station and one of its longest-running businesses, “The Petal Pusher” is a reflection on the economics of love (and desperation), and it's a testament to a bygone era — before recent construction transformed the station into a kind of mall filled with chain stores. At its heart, this is a story about love, loss, and family.

• Synopsis: "The Petal Pusher" is an ode to New York City's Penn Station, the busiest and perhaps dingiest transit hub in North America. It's told through the prism of what was one of the longest-running small businesses there: The Petal Pusher. It was a flower shop, with several strategically located kiosks, that served the daily crush of commuters, especially on Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. The film is a reflection on the economics of love (and desperation), and it's a testament to a bygone era — before recent construction transformed the station into a kind of mall filled with chain stores. At its heart, this is a story about love, loss, and family. The director’s parents opened The Petal Pusher in the 1970s and ran it for decades, until the station's renovation forced the business to close.

The 15-minute film will premiere at the DOC NYC film festival in the fall of 2025. See more on FilmFreeway here.