Based on author Amy Liptrot’s 2016 memoir of the same name, “The Outrun” is a highly personal screen adaptation of one woman’s battle with addiction and the difficult steps taken in her quest for healing. It’s a recovery drama full of pain and self-discovery, but director Nora Fingscheidt creates a film that’s unlike others with similar narratives. Elevated by an impressive lead performance from Saoirse Ronan and an effective, raw look at the devastation addiction can cause, this story is one that’s emotional, genuine, therapeutic, and hopeful.
Rona (Ronan) is finally facing her struggles with alcoholism. After a frightening, violent incident that occurred after a night of heavy drinking, she hits her rock bottom and checks herself into a rehab facility. After completing her 90 day program and with a newfound sobriety, she returns to the farm where she grew up. Located on the windswept coast of the most remote area of the Orkney Islands of Scotland, Rona hopes to spend some time communing with her roots and nature in an effort to heal.
Fingscheidt (who also co-wrote the screenplay) tells Rona’s journey through a series of flashbacks, incorporating folklore into her dreamlike storytelling. From her slow, downward spiral in London to the unfortunate aspect of her upbringing by a highly religious mother (Saskia Reeves) and a bipolar father (Stephen Dillane), Rona is a young woman who will have to muster a ton of strength in order to stay sober. The film gives a portrayal of addiction that honest and real, accurately showing how addicts not only tear down themselves, but also hurt the people who love them the most.
Ronan is outstanding and completely believable as a woman struggling with a serious addiction, from her self-destructive behavior to finding the courage to turn her life around. She shows off an impressive range, managing to make her character relatable even at her most unlikable. Viewers are taken along on the difficult journey, where every relapse and bad decision feels like a punch in the gut.
Fingscheidt makes some questionable directorial choices that cause the film to stumble, including a needlessly complicated structure that jumps around in time, and pushing the story well past what’s necessary (the runtime could be trimmed and the storytelling tightened by at least 20 minutes, if not more). This gives a rambling feeling to the film that does it no favors, but the story, themes, and performances are strong enough to outweigh the missteps.
“The Outrun” is an intimate story about the very real struggles with addiction that many face, but it’s also about the power of nature to heal deeply buried personal demons. This is a beautifully moving film that’s filled with pain but also cautious optimism, creating a serenity to the inner chaos and turmoil of a recovering alcoholic and her plans for a brighter future.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 