Petrolheads

While most people’s dream car would be a Ferrari, Porsche or Lamborghini, Martin wants nothing more than to own a 1994 Honda Civic. Diagnosed with autism and ADHD at a young age and currently struggling with substance abuse, driving this car would be, as he puts it, his way of feeling “normal”. When his car is badly damaged in an accident, however, he seizes the chance to restore the coveted Japanese car alongside lifelong best friend Casper. Filmed by Martin’s foster brother, Emil Langballe, Danish documentary Petrolheads (Benzinbrødre) functions as both a slice-of-life character study and a touching portrait of friendship.

Utilising a lot of long takes with handheld cameras, Langballe takes a grounded approach to filmmaking. Apart from a brief introduction, the director doesn’t provide any narration, nor are there any interview scenes with talking heads. Instead, Langballe strips away the genre artifice to allow events to play out naturally, as if viewers were silent observers in Martin’s life. This creates a more intimate viewing experience as the audience watches Martin and Casper have honest conversations about living with disabilities and sharing their love for cars with each other.

It soon becomes clear that there’s a darker side to Martin’s life. Without being able to drive, he falls back into drug addiction and gets involved with people who take advantage of him. His utter dejection after failing a drug test is heartbreaking, which only makes seeing him continue to fall into the same destructive cycle more tragic. Worse, though, is his inability to be honest about his problems with those around him. The lies create friction in his relationship with Casper, which threatens to undo their seemingly unbreakable bond.

Langballe has nothing but compassion for his brother. As frustrating as Martin’s deception can be, the documentary continuously emphasises that he’s a kind-hearted person who’s been put in a vulnerable situation. Underneath the feature’s wry sense of humour and the characters’ passion for cars, Petrolheads is ultimately about the impact that loneliness can have on mental health.

Understated and brimming with heart, Langballe discards documentary conventions to deliver an authentic insight into his brother’s struggle with addiction. At its core, though, Petrolheads is a moving tribute to unconditional friendship.

Andrew Murray

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