Microbe & Gasoline

Studio: StudioCanal/Screen Media Films
Directed by Michel Gondry

Jun 29, 2016 By J.A. Kordosh Michel Gondry

Two eccentric boys form a close, intriguing bond in Michel Gondry’s Microbe & Gasoline. This is a more restrained Gondry film, closer to his documentary The Thorn in the Heart than the more spectacular Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or The Science of Sleep. Though his real strength lies in those more dreamlike and imaginative pictures, Gondry’s control allows both his young actors, Ange Dargen and Théophile Baquet, to display their impressive acting skills.

Dargen plays Microbe, the diminutive (hence the nickname) student who can’t get the girl he wants, and worse, is often mistaken for one. Fortunately, the arrival of a new student (Baquet) alleviates his alienation. Despite the cliché of the new kid at school, the character works due to Baquet’s strong performance and the capable writing. Often dialogue for teens can come off as too smart or trying too hard, but in Microbe & Gasoline it’s idiosyncratic as well as endearing. The connection the two begin is cemented in a delightful scene at an empty art opening that is by itself worth the price of admission.

The narrative does begin to wobble as the boys run away from home (another coming-of-age cliché that fares better under Gondry’s stewardship). It even veers into ridiculousness as they run afoul of a brothel-running gang leader who doubles as a high school footballer. Thankfully, the relationship between the two young adventurers keeps the film afloat.

Even in this more realistic world, Gondry’s creativity shines. His talent is wonderfully funneled into a singular creation: a house-car the boys build to initiate their journey. It’s a fantastic design and serves as potent symbol of the possibilities found when one is young. Gondry has crafted a lovely story about growing up and the difficulty of finding yourself. As critical as that discovery is, Microbe & Gasoline reminds us that it may be just as important to have someone along for the ride.

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