PETROL

Australia, 2022, 95 minutes, Colour.

Nathalie Morris, Hannah Lynch, Daniel Fredricksen.

Directed by Alena Lodkina.

A small budget drama, Melbourne-based, the second feature from writer-director, Alen Lodkina. The first, Strange Colours, was about a young Russian woman searching for connections in the mining town of Lightning Ridge. The central character is a young film student, Eva, played sympathetically by Nathalie Morris. She lives with her Russian parents who came originally from St Petersburg. In fact, Alena Lodkina came with her family at age 13 from St Petersburg. So, this is Eva’s story but it is Alena’s imaginative story.

While one can trace a narrative, step-by-step, throughout the film, Eva’s film study, relationship with her parents, caring for an elderly Russian lady who was to be the subject of her film, classes and discussions with her tutor, a party encounter with an artist, Mia (Hannah Lynch), a fascination with Mia, with her company, with her work, Mia disappearing at times, Eva searching for her, that is not exactly the point.

A quotation from the writer-director herself indicates her intentions: “For me, Petrol is a film about a young woman’s search of self, the strange line between self and others, the vulnerability of youth. At a time of change and discovery, when one readily loses oneself in other people, the delicate line between reality and imagination can become blurred,” says Alena Lodkina.

So, the challenge to the audience is to pick up on the allusions, the surreal suggestions, the touches of the beyond, sequences which may be real or maybe in Eva’s imagination…

The narrative and the surrealism buildup to a confrontation between Eva and Mia, some truth-telling, Eva accusing Mia of being afraid, Mia accusing Eva of spending her life and energy is trying to please everyone. There is a reconciliation, a fantasy sequence in fancy dress and the two walking into the surf, and Eva alone.

Scouring reviews has not revealed the meaning of the title – nor the comments made by the director. Nor this review.

Eva is very young – and her life is before her. Alena Lodkina has made two feature films and two short films, her career is before her.

1. The title? Any indications during the film?
2. The writer-director, similar background to that of her character? Autobiographical? Self-exploration through the character?
3. The Melbourne settings, homes, streets, the beach, the coast? The musical score?
4. The realism of the plot, Eva’s story, the Russian background, growing up in Melbourne, speaking Russian, the conversations with her mother, with her father, with Bella? Seeing her recording the ocean sounds, seeing Mia? Her film, presentation to the class, discussions with her tutor, the nature of her final film and graduation? Caring for Bella, Bella to be the subject of her film, impressions? Following the couple, the party, meeting with Mia, spending the time with her, fascinated by her? Moving in, the interactions with Mia, Mia and her disappearance, Eva searching for her, worried, the encounter with the young man, the visit to his family, the institution, discovering Mia, the scenes in the grass, the changing of clothes, formal, the drinks, at the beach, into the water?
5. The surrealism of the style, Eva seeing her reverse image in the mirror, the discussion about ghosts and presence, the Ouija board? Scenes happening in Eva’s imagination?
6. Mia, artist, her background, her flat, the encounter with Eva, their friendship, outings, discussions, the art? Eva moving in? Mia’s disappearance, for a long time, at the institution, the sequence in the grass, Mia being accused of being afraid, Mia accusing Eva of wanting to please everyone? The change of dress, at the beach, into the water? Mia disappearing?
7. The background characters, sense of realism, Eva and her mother, shopping, the overcoat, the gift from her father, her cleaning Bella’s house? The scenes at the school, at the computer and the editing of the film? The tutor and his observations? The young man, the conversations, taking Eva to meet his parents, the art, the discussions? The psychologist and his therapy?
8. The film as Eva’s self-journey, understanding herself, understanding herself through Mia and the friendship? Alone at the end, her life before her?