Russian-born Australian film-maker Alena Lodkina’s second feature defies genre and flirts with horror, following two young women who are drawn to one another
The cryptic Petrol invites these kinds of intellectual readings, which one might ponder during its many slow spots. The core mystery involves not what is really happening or even, but the scope and purpose of the film itself – a mystery that encourages critical thinking, but leaves you feeling emotionally distant.
Petrol begins with Eva on the coast, wielding a large microphone, capturing sounds for a university assignment. For a while I thought the film might explore sound recording, which would’ve given it some novelty, but Lodkina moves on from that pretty quick. The closest thing to a central narrative in this film charts the evolving friendship between two twentysomethings: the even-tempered Eva and the more outgoing Mia .
As Eva, Morris gives a subtle performance, matching the tone of the film in her quiet strangeness, and her ability to balance realism with whispers of eccentricity. Lynch as Mia is strong too, though her performance feels clipped: far more restrained and much less charming than a Greta Gerwig-type free spirit. The pair lack chemistry, though this feels almost like a directorial decision – speaking to the film’s prioritisation of head over heart.
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