With high school in the rearview, five teenagers from inland Oregon embark on one last adventure. Piling into a van with a busted tail light, their mission takes them to a place they’ve never bee...
Co-directors (and brothers) Bill and Turner Ross “Gasoline Rainbow” is a coming-of-age journey that captures the raw essence of adolescent restlessness with a rambling, experimental flair. The film’s blend of fiction and documentary styles creates a unique narrative that offers a relatable depiction of youthful exploration and adventure, painting a picture of a generation raised in the TikTok era. While trying at times, the movie offers an authentic and poignant snapshot that captures the feeling of freedom, restlessness, and the burning desire to search for a place to belong in the world.
While very loose on plot, the film follows a group of new high school graduates from a small town in Oregon who hop into a van and drive down the Pacific Coast. Their journey takes them through varied landscapes (deserts, cities, forests, and beaches) where their paths cross with other outsiders just trying to make their way in the world, too. It’s a story of misfits on a quest for independence, fueled by a burning desire to blaze their own trail.
Blurring the lines between fiction and reality, the authenticity of the performances is a standout feature. These are first-time actors who don’t feel as if they’re acting and are just being themselves, which is both a strong point as well as a weakness. Most of the candid dialogue and situations feel loosely scripted or improvised, making this feel like a modern mumblecore project. It offers an unfiltered glimpse into the lives of the young cast, but also becomes exhausting as a viewer.
The film’s commitment to authenticity is a double-edged sword, however. The fresh perspectives are interesting enough, but the grainy, shaky cinematography (especially when coupled with many filler scenes of teenagers singing along with the radio) tested my patience. These are kids who are talking about the present and the future, and a good chunk of their banter isn’t all that interesting. If you prefer a more structured narrative that leans toward the traditional rather than experimental and artsy, you will likely be turned off by the casual, loose storytelling here. It’s mostly refreshing, but this style may not resonate with everyone.
Overall, “Gasoline Rainbow” successfully conveys the feeling of excitement and uncertainty of stepping into an unknown future. The film celebrates universal themes of dreaming big, embracing adventure, and finding community and friendship, and those open to the movie’s experimental approach will find a heartfelt representation of the journey into adulthood. This story of restless youth is definitely made for today’s young adults, but it will also evoke nostalgia in those who can fondly look back on their own adventures when they were that age.
