Gasoline Rainbow

I suppose you can watch a movie like this and feel nothing at all if you really want to.

That wasn't the case for me. Loved the thing, felt really connected to the group even though I more than double their age and I'm South American. Made me realize how similar the life experiences of people can be across time and space. How universal our feelings are.

And the closing track almost made me cry, so much beauty and feeling.

Sorry, not very great with the English language, but wanted to offer a counterpoint to the chorus of jaded reviews. I watched, I loved, left an impression on me. Hope you can be open to it as well.

I went into this blind and in the end I rather enjoyed it.

The nature of the movie makes any viewer older than the main characters feel compelled to criticise it and all the while, it is difficult to ever genuinely feel entitled to do so. In a simple sense, the characters are drawn to be inarticulate and somewhat 2 dimensional, but then people at 17/18 tend to be like this.

In this sense the film feels more relatable, although the plot feels wholly unrealistic, even for however simple it all is. 5 kids who have just finished high school decide to go on a road trip to the pacific coast 500 miles away? Speak to and trust every stranger in sight? Don't stare at their phone constantly? Yeah I don't think so.

Themes of being alienated, feeling different, and having no community and not knowing what they want to do are all painfully ironic when they seem to relate so strongly to each other and to literally every person they meet and feel capable to venture out wherever they want. The characters almost represent the antithesis of what they feel afflicted by. To be sure, I am confident this was deliberate albeit on the nose.

Still, the film remains both thematically, and visually inspired, and optimistic. Most of the characters are not developed much, but I suppose this is the point. Lots of different imagery, and juxtapositions of music make the film feel different in a characteristically "independent" sorta way. For what it is worth, since I don't watch many movie like this I enjoyed that component.

I don't know in what way this is meant to reflect the zeitgeist or the current concerns and interests of young people when I swear this has been the story of the youth since time began. Similarly, I question who this movie is really made for given it is a streaming on Mubi- a service I estimate most young people don't have, the lack of character development and generally easy roles for each of the characters makes it less relatable still to an older audience.

Still I want to acknowledge that the attempt made to reflect the reckless and uncertain feelings of being a teenager are commendable. Shaky camera handling, very wide angles as well as very intimate angles all present an obscured moment which seems to leave as soon as it is noticed.

I would recommend this bearing in mind about 30-40% of the time it feels like a commercial for Abercrombie and Fitch.

A part of me also really thinks this could have achieved greater heights if it followed the same plot for about 30-40 minutes and then become a blockbuster horror slasher movie. That might of been neat.

"...small-town Oregon who, with high school in the rearview, decide to embark on one last adventure: to make it to a place they've never been -the Pacific coast, 500 miles away."

I don't need everyone who writes about a place to literally be from that place, but maybe a glancing familiarity would be useful, no?

Just look at a map of Oregon. There isn't a town, and there isn't a route, that would make the ocean 500 miles away. It's a bizarre detail to center the entire story around, especially considering these kids could have been from any town further inland.

I don't need 100% accuracy to be invested in a story, but if you're trying to tell an authentic story about a certain part of the world, how can i trust your take on the subject when you don't even know the basic lay of the land?

This is cinema today, with few means but an urgent and necessary narrative verve, an unrepeatable moment to capture and make dance in the eyes of the spectator. This is a very naïve road movie that goes nowhere, but that's exactly the point. The directionless escape, that botched excitement that exudes sublime and releases the energy of adolescence, of the future without a destination, of the necessary escape. The Ross brothers are attached to their characters, which are an offshoot of themselves, almost, in a maniacal and adorable way, they apply their documentary experience and their authorial sensitivity to a sensitive and delicate subject such as adolescence, always and forever. Always. The truth is in the moment, the escape action is an instinct, the direction is optional, the important thing is the journey and the sensations it gives you, or will give you in the future and the Ross brothers know how to shape this chaos of videos and photos of cell phones, lo-fi digital footage and budding adolescence with thrilling artistry and poetry, letting you dive into the lives of these kids with a rare vitality. A precious and emotional film to reconcile with the present.

While Hollywood often dominates the perception of American cinema, the vibrant and prolific world of American independent cinema exists as a testament to the nation's diverse storytelling landscape. Despite its undeniable contributions, European media outlets have often overlooked this rich tapestry of filmmaking, focusing their attention elsewhere. This film, "Gasoline Rainbow," distributed by Mubi and produced by The Match Factory (recently acquired by Mubi), exemplifies this tendency, as Mubi initially seemed to mirror the European disregard for American independent cinema. However, the tide has begun to turn, thanks in part to filmmakers like Sean Baker, who have garnered recognition and acclaim at European award ceremonies, forcing a reevaluation of this overlooked cinematic tradition.

"Gasoline Rainbow" offers a poignant road trip narrative that challenges the idyllic image of the "American Dream" often projected by the United States, a nation that proudly proclaims itself as the "Land of the Free." The film delves into the lives of individuals who find themselves far removed from the idealized version of American life, exposing the harsh realities and struggles faced by many within this supposedly utopian society.

The Ross Brothers, who both directed and served as cinematographers for the film, have masterfully crafted a visual language that complements and enhances the storytelling. Their keen eye for detail and evocative imagery create a captivating and immersive cinematic experience.

The choice of music in the film suggests that the original concept may have centered around Generation Y, but was later revised to focus on Generation Z. This subtle shift in focus adds another layer of depth to the narrative, exploring the unique challenges and experiences of a generation often misunderstood and unfairly criticized.

The negative reviews on platforms like Letterboxd and IMDb are indicative of the unwarranted animosity directed towards Generation Z. These critiques often devolve into ad hominem attacks and bullying, ironically coming from members of Generation Y, the generation closest in age to the film's subjects. This phenomenon inadvertently reinforces the film's central theme of generational alienation and the struggles faced by young people in finding their place in the world. In a sense, the vitriol directed towards the film serves as a validation of its narrative.

Available for streaming on Mubi in stunning 4K resolution with 5.1 surround sound, "Gasoline Rainbow" is a film that deserves your attention. It tells the story of a generation that will shape the future, a generation that you may have overlooked due to preconceived notions. Through its exceptional cinematic language, the film offers a compelling and insightful exploration of the lives and experiences of Generation Z.