Gasoline (2002)
A fierce Italian crime-romance about two women in love, a dangerous secret, and a desperate road that changes everything.
Gasoline - Movie Information
- Original Title: Benzina
- Release Year: 2002
- Directed by: Monica Stambrini
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Romance
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 1h 24m
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 31, 2002 (Italy - T), September 14, 2003 (United Kingdom - 15)
- Alternative Titles: Gasoline (US), Gazoline (FR), Benzina (UK), Gasoline (CA)
- Production Companies: Digital Film
- Production Countries: Italy
Gasoline - Plot
Fiery, dark-haired Stella, an intense auto mechanic, and nervous, blonde Eleonora are young and in love. They operate a gas station peacefully, until Eleonora's mother appears and voices her disapproval of their romance.
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Gasoline - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Monica Stambrini
Main Cast
- Maya Sansa
- Regina Orioli
- Mariella Valentini
- Chiara Conti
- Marco Quaglia
- Pietro Ragusa
- Luigi Maria Burruano
- Osvaldo Alzari
- Pasquale Zurlin
- Gianni Mastrangelo
Writers
- Elena Stancanelli
- Monica Stambrini
- Anne Riitta Ciccone
Producers
- Galliano Juso
Gasoline - FAQs
What is Gasoline about?
Gasoline follows Stella, a fierce auto mechanic, and Eleonora, her nervous blonde girlfriend, who run a gas station together in Italy. When Eleonora's disapproving mother shows up, a violent confrontation sends the couple on a desperate, darkly charged road trip with no easy way back.
Is Gasoline based on a true story or a book?
Gasoline is adapted from Elena Stancanelli's 1998 Italian novel of the same name. The screenplay was co-written by Stancanelli herself alongside director Monica Stambrini and Anne Riitta Ciccone, keeping the story closely tied to the source material's raw, intimate tone.
Who are the lead actresses in Gasoline?
Maya Sansa plays Stella, the intense, dark-haired mechanic at the heart of the story, while Regina Orioli plays her girlfriend Lenni (Eleonora). Mariella Valentini also appears as Lenni's intrusive, disapproving mother, whose arrival sets the whole dangerous chain of events in motion.
Is Gasoline a lesbian film?
Yes, Gasoline centers on a lesbian relationship between Stella and Eleonora. The film is notable for portraying their romance naturally and without sensationalism, focusing instead on the emotional intensity and desperation of two women fighting to protect their love against outside judgment and violence.
Who directed Gasoline and what is her background?
Gasoline was directed by Monica Stambrini, an Italian filmmaker. It was her feature debut, and she also co-wrote the screenplay. The film earned her recognition on the international festival circuit, praised for its confident visual style and the raw, urgent energy she brought to the story.
What genre is Gasoline?
Gasoline blends crime and romance into a tense, road-movie-inflected thriller. It has the pulse of a fugitive drama — think runaway lovers under pressure — wrapped around a deeply personal love story. The result is something that feels both genre-driven and emotionally raw at the same time.
When was Gasoline released?
Gasoline premiered in Italy on May 31, 2002. It later opened in the United Kingdom on September 14, 2003, and received a US release on July 2, 2003. The film traveled the international festival circuit before reaching wider audiences across Europe and North America.
What are some films similar to Gasoline?
If Gasoline resonates with you, try Me, Myself and Her (2015) or I Can't Think Straight (2008) for similar romantic dynamics, or Wild at Heart (1990) and Lonely Hearts (2006) for that same fugitive-couple intensity. Summertime (2015) and Elena Undone (2010) are also worth exploring.
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