Gasoline Rainbow

Grab everything you need, leave behind the uncertainty of the modern world, ditch your dreams and the angsty pursuit of achieving—we’re going for a road trip. Gasoline Rainbow is a portrait of teenage-hood in modern times, capturing the essence of that first terrifying step into the vast ocean of life.

Teenage confusion collides with Gen-Z nonchalance, all wrapped in unconditional love for friendship and living in the moment. Blending documentary-style realism with mixed-media, Gasoline Rainbow delivers a potent contact high of youthful energy, immersing viewers in the freedom and recklessness of being young and alive. It’s a story about reveling in those fleeting, singular moments of discovery that exist before life comes rushing in with all its intensity.

We’re on a roadtrip that everybody has taken and experienced in their own way. It’s not about reaching your destination, but solely for that never ending singular “moment” that we all have been living at. So, we are out on the way with a pack of 5 teenagers who are on the cusp of high school graduation. Trying not to get crushed by the heavy burdens of future anxieties, we run away from the inevitable future. No matter how fast, no matter how far—the distance in between is getting shorter by the second. In this game of chasing their own tails, the group uncovers fragments of themselves with each loop they go through. Each step reveals more than just the road behind them—but themselves.

This is a story that’s not so different from being young at any time, and at the same time very different in its unique ways. In Gasoline Rainbow the oft-told story of disaffected teens seeking freedom out on the road gets a new vitality and the verite performances from its five leads, all first-time actors playing versions of themselves. The sheer rawness of the acting makes the story feel authentic, ultimately resulting in scenes filled with familiarity. There’s nothing false about their dynamic, which is teasing at times but also warm and loving in an open-hearted way that carries out the unique emotional intelligence of Gen-Z. Of the moment but timeless.

Visually, Gasoline Rainbow thrives in its expansive, meditative shots of vast landscapes of Oregon—serene open seas, windmills, sun-drenched fields, and neon-lit pit stops that feel both cinematic and intimate. The camera work captures the tension between freedom and confinement, letting the wide-open spaces contrast the inner turmoil of the characters. This aspect is elevated with the story telling, characters’ unspoken bond unfolds through subtle gestures and quiet moments to shift between exhilarating and reflective, echoing the unpredictable nature of adolescence itself. Ross Brothers curated these indelible images where each frame feels like a postcard from the middle of nowhere, reflecting the emotional vastness the teens are grappling with. 

Gasoline Rainbow in its core is a reminder of the temporary—handling the subject with a warm approach rather than being depressed about it. The whole movie feels like an invitation to remember the joy of youth and being present in the moment. A documentary for teenagers of all ages executed beautifully by Ross Brothers. There’s no intricate plot, just breathtaking landscapes and the raw frustration of growing up. Let it wash over you like a quiet moment in nature, and remember: while life will always find ways to overwhelm you, sometimes the best thing to do is sit back and enjoy the view.

With the belief that good music should always be a part of every road trip, we invite you to our playlist inspired by Gasoline Rainbow: