New Haven Advocate

by Advocate Staff - September 18, 2003

Finally, the 37-minute rock opera Petunia announces itself as the most refreshing, original and restless offering of FilmFest 2003. John Levy's self-described "garage musical" isn't distinctive just because its characters burst into song; it's because it eschews standard young-and-sexy rock & roll types for middle-aged or elderly folk. An Elvis-esque hotshot does show up early on; he's the son of the title character, who dies mysteriously but whose spirit continues to grow and blossom until the doo-wop denouement. But this rockin' teen is an inspired take on rock-operatic heroics, just as the whole fast-paced half-hour-plus film is a raffish riff on Little Shop of Horrors, Rocky Horror and John Waters' Cry Baby, with dollops of David Lynch. The overblown, quasi-orchestral rock score, with back-up singers and strings and everything, fits the cryptic-cartoon mood exactly. There are comments on sexism (housewife jokes) and racism (when a middle-aged Hispanic cop sings, in English, the lyrics are nevertheless rendered in subtitles).

Even if you're at first put off by Petunia--it's like Twin Peaks crossed with Cop Rock--this thick-rooted rock & roll riot is bound to grow on you.