In “Gasoline Rainbow,” the latest from brother-directors Bill and Turner Ross, five Oregon teenagers who have just graduated from high school meander some 500 miles to the coast to attend a party billed as “the end of the world.”
They are like countless young protagonists in front of them: on the road of exploration. But while they shared many of the same longings and anxieties as the American road trippers from “On the Road” to “Easy Rider,” their specific upbringing was unique—and so was what was on the radio. “Man, man, I want to hear Shakira,” one of them said from the back of the van.
That’s how the Ross brothers, makers of the Texas-Mexico border portraits “The West” and “Bloody Noses, Empty Pockets,” took 22 people to a Las Vegas dive bar and asked them Act like the bar is closing. Day 2 – We are in a hybrid cinematic world, half documentary, half fiction. Our characters—Micah, Nathaly, Nichole, Tony, Makai—are all nonprofessional actors, and their journeys are a series of loosely constructed encounters that mostly unfold naturally.
This approach to filmmaking, in its weakest moments, can result in the worst of both worlds: the aimless narrative of a documentary and the fictional quality of fiction. But overall, the Roth brothers’ observational, immersive filmmaking borders on bracingly real.
In the case of “Gasoline Rainbow,” opening in theaters Friday, the ground teenagers walk on says a lot. Whether driving or walking, they’ll cross highway overpasses, pass through vast train stations, and follow a long row of wind turbines. Global warming is mentioned only once, but it hangs over their uncertain future. They travel through barren, dry lands and industrial ruins. The party’s name is no coincidence.
As bleak as that may be, the question that matters most to “Gasoline Rainbow” — which sits comfortably among films like Alma Harel’s “Bombay Beach” and Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey” — is: So What should we do now? For these young people who are unsure of what to do with their lives, hitting the road can provide many answers. The world left behind by older generations can be disrupted. “Do you know the difference between children and adults?” an elder told them. “Adults are not supervised.” But if you’re willing to hit the road and make some new friends, you’ll discover beautiful things, like sparkling pools of gasoline.
The answer lies largely in community – daring to get out of your home, meet strangers and find like-minded souls. Perhaps most importantly, the Ross brothers had a keen eye for American eccentrics and were interested in bringing together all the most interesting people they could find. The resulting spirit of camaraderie is as warm as the gathered campfire in “Gasoline Rainbow.”
Mubi’s release of “Gasoline Rainbow” has not been rated by the Motion Picture Association. Running time: 110 minutes. Three out of four stars.
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