The Outrun

Movie Name: The Outrun
Year of Release: 2024
Director: Nora Fingscheidt
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Saskia Reeves, Stephen Dillane, Paapa Essiedu, Izuka Hoyle, Freya Evans, David Garrick
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
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Synopsis and Review

Nora Fingscheidt achieved a considerable amount of attention with her prior directorial endeavor, the Netflix release "The Unforgivable", with Sandra Bullock (which racked up quite a high volume of viewership, even if the reviews were not very complimentary). "The Outrun" is based on the book by Amy Liptrot and follows the story of Rona, a young woman who following a stint in rehab for alcoholism, returns home to live with her mom in the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Rona has had to deal with some unexpected issues since she was a child, including her father's bipolar disorder. Through flashbacks we witness her stint in college and the romantic relationship she forms with Daynin. Her drinking eventually leads to the demise of that relationship. She briefly reconnects with him when she's sexually assaulted following a night of drinking, and quickly realizes he's already moved on. While on the Orkney Islands she assists her father with his farming, and eventually takes a job with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. She has a brief relapse, which leads her to seek another position on a remote island, by the name of Papa Westray, where she lives by herself and starts forming friendships with the locals. Her mom comes for a brief visit and they manage to connect and communicate candidly. 

"The Outrun" doesn't cover material that hasn't been documented or explored before. There's been countless films about characters/individuals battling alcoholism, some with great results, such as Mike Figgis' "Leaving Las Vegas", others not so excitingly doing the same such as Betty Thomas' "28 Days". What makes "The Outrun" a compelling film to watch is of course the central performance from Saoirse Ronan. Rona is just a young woman trying to figure out her way in the world, and alcohol just enables her to let go of her fears. Unlike some of the characters from other films revolving around alcoholism, which center themselves around charismatic and damaged individuals drowning themselves in sorrow (and guilt), this central character is a young woman who is still trying to understand who she is, and what path she wants to carve for herself in the world. She comes from a slightly off-kilter upbringing, and whatever fears that has instilled in her, she sees drinking as a way to numb those fears and charge ahead. She feels like a regular individual that we could easily cross by in our world. That's one of the most interesting aspects of this character and the film itself: it feels authentic and rooted in the now, even if some scenes do veer off into the metaphorical cliché of embracing the unknown. The director also very smartly positions the narrative in these isolated islands, where very few people live, which gives the central character an opportunity to further reflect about her life, but also rely more on her own abilities and ultimately persevere. The cast is solid, with Saoirse Ronan creating a solid central character, with great supporting turns from Saskia Reeves and Stephen Dillane as her parents. The production team is solid, particularly the cinematography from Yunus Roy Imer. It's a well told story featuring a solid central performance.