Microbe & Gasoline
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Michel Gondry |
| Products | Film |
Microbe & Gasoline () is a 2015 French dramedy and road movie crafted by writer-director Michel Gondry. This coming-of-age story centers on two adolescents embarking on a journey in a homemade vehicle. The cast features newcomers Théophile Baquet and Ange Dargent, with Audrey Tautou in a supporting role. The film was met with positive critical acclaim.
Plot Summary
Daniel ("Microbe") and Theo ("Gasoline"), friends since junior high, face social challenges; Daniel endures bullying while Theo tends to overthink situations. Both come from complex family backgrounds: Theo deals with a strict father and an ill mother, whereas Daniel’s emotionally distant mother mistakes his behavior for gender confusion.
Lacking cars or licenses, the pair construct a makeshift recreational vehicle using a lawnmower engine and scavenged parts, cleverly camouflaged as a garden shed. Their cross-country trip through France features comedic moments (such as police officers taking selfies), tense encounters (gangsters chasing them over unpaid debts), and unusual experiences (Daniel getting his hair cut at a brothel managed by the Korean mafia).
Tensions rise when Theo discovers Daniel’s primary motivation was to impress Laura, a classmate. Eventually, their vehicle is found burned but remains functional until they abandon it near a cliff. They return home by cleverly sneaking onto an airplane and then taking a train.
Upon returning to Versailles, Theo learns his mother has passed away, and his father intends to send him to reform school. Meanwhile, Daniel confronts bullying at school but defends himself using techniques taught by Theo. After being expelled, Laura calls out to Daniel, who chooses not to respond.
Cast
- Théophile Baquet as Théo Leloir / Gasoil
- Ange Dargent as Daniel Guéret / Microbe
- Audrey Tautou as Marie-Thérèse Guéret
- Diane Besnier as Laura
- Vincent Lamoureux as Steve
- Agathe Peigney as Agathe
- Douglas Brosset as Oscar
- Charles Raymond as Kévin
- Ferdinand Roux-Balme as Simon
- Marc Delarue as Romain
- Ely Penh as the gang leader
- Jana Bittnerova as Madame Leloir
- Zimsky as Monsieur Leloir
- Fabio Zenoni as Monsieur Guéret
- Matthias Fortune Droulers as Théo's brother
- Sacha Bourdo as the Russian teacher
- Laurent Poitrenaux as the dentist
- Étienne Charry as the organiser
- Marie Berto as Carole Raoult
Reception
According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 60 critics gave positive feedback, with an average score of 7.2 out of 10. The consensus highlights that "Microbe and Gasoline exemplifies Michel Gondry’s unique style with delightfully charming results." On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 75 out of 100 based on 20 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."
Accolades
| Award / Film Festival | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumière Awards | Best Music | Jean-Claude Vannier | Template:Nom |