Gasoline Rainbow – A Vibey and Heartfelt Adventure

Graduating high school and deciding what to do next is challenging for everyone. Thousands of thoughts and doubts come to mind. When we are so young, choosing what to do next is almost impossible. This premise is the jumping off point for Gasoline Rainbow, a story that follows five young people from Wiley, Oregon who decide to go for one last fun adventure before being locked into college, military, and unbearable jobs. Nathaly, Makai, Tony, Nichole, and Micah, presented to audiences through high school IDs, they hopped into an old van and marched to the Pacific. Passing through different countryside towns in inner America, the group of kids found a way to bond with the like-minded people they encountered along the way. The same people, those who didn’t feel at home in the places they lived, liked to venture out to other areas to find some fun. 

Over the course of the group’s journey, audiences get to meet some singular figures, such as Gary, a Portland skater who flew from New Jersey and went to Oregon’s biggest city. One exciting aspect of the narrative is how supportive people are with them along the way. They share food, take them to parties, and show them places to crash to spend the night. Gasoline Rainbow, directed by Bill & Turner Ross, uses the hybrid documentary format to play within its rules. It is different from the usual take of standard documentaries, even the observational ones. They mix fiction and non-fiction well, making the most out of the format. While some obvious callbacks and bits are scripted, they are fine and intend to be as such. The film uses this trope as a means for a coming-of-age arc. 

Meanwhile, the Ross brothers do not shy away in their depiction of Gen Z. They aren’t afraid to show how they express themselves through what they wear and what songs they listen to, serving as the soundtrack of their suffering lives. Vaping and pot use were also common among the group in a way that it essentially works as a tool to ease the stress of their day-to-day lives. In contrast to the younger generation within Oregon, they are more exposed to the dangers of heavy drugs, such as fentanyl, which have contributed to a severe epidemic across the state. Family is way too crucial for the construction of this story. Nathaly’s father was deported to Mexico, and she had to take care of herself alone in the U.S. It is noticeable that she can look for others. Tony had to live with Micah when his mother went to rehab. Nicholle does not have enough contact with her father. Micah’s encounter with Mila, his cousin in Portland, is crucial to comprehending the kids’ relations with their family backgrounds. 

Near the end of the kids’ journey, it began to feel tiresome and repetitive. The five leading figures are merely become lost among many others in Portland. While some of them are interesting and have a curious backstory, the story needed to focus more on their main objective which was the kids’ odyssey to the Pacific. Gasoline Rainbow delivers beautiful purple and orange sunsets, a fascinating final odyssey to the beach, and five people who had suffered but are trying to know the world before getting stuck in their hometown.

In the end, with Gasoline Rainbow, the Ross brothers play with the format, combining fiction and non-fiction, to create a vibey and heartfelt adventure. 

still courtesy of Mubi

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Pedro Lima

Brazilian film writer. He is also a producer and executive producer for Zariah Filmes. Member of the International Film Society Critics Association (IFSCA), International Documentary Association (IDA), and Gotham and Media Film Institute.