The Outrun

Saoirse Ronan could easily have a second career narrating nature documentaries.

Never underestimate how difficult it is to play various stages of drunk, addiction and sobriety and Ronan nails it. Movies with a distinct cinematic style are becoming increasingly rare so I'm so grateful for what Nora Fonscheidt achieved with her visual storytelling The colours and textures were just stunning especially around perspective and memory.

Obviously it's the Saoirse show but the supporting cast is pitch perfect, especially Stephen Dillane and Saskia Reeves as her parents. Paapa Essideu is such a subtle screen presence but the camera just loves him.

The film does something that not a lot of films do; it isolates and creates a metaphor in the scenery. The personalities of the actors / actresses are flawless; i.e. Gaining character and momentum as the film moved in turn. Conceptually; It runs deep. You know or don't...the plot was in reverse as soon as it was set in motion. Rona was chasing. She was chasing a life that was hers. The lining of gray rain and clear raindrops only saddened the scene; cars and planes included. It was the largest blessing for the protagonist. Bleak, desolate visions and thoughts of " bird calls. " Excitement was there. Recalling the vivid techno moments, she embraced. She learned to cope and not cope with withdrawals, seemingly and with volition. The acting and portrayals was spot on. Every turn had a sequence. Regardless, the film is pinnacle at finding isolation and making the best; mockery and joke or serious and real.

Greetings again from the darkness. The best movies revolving around alcoholism usually make us feel like we are intruding on someone's personal train wreck. Three that come to mind, each resulting in at least one Oscar, are LEAVING LAS VEGAS (1995), DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES (1962), and THE LOST WEEKEND (1945). This one is based on the 2016 memoir by Amy Liptrot, who also adapted the book for the screen with director Nora Fingscheidt (known for her festival favorite SYSTEM CRASHER, 2019).

Having already been nominated for four Oscars, there is little debate that Saoirse Ronan is one of the top actors of her generation. And this may be her best performance yet. As Rona, she captures the quiet desperation and loneliness that isn't always so quiet. We see Rona as the unemployed, Masters-degreed, sloppy drunk party girl. We see her as the drunken victim of sexual violence. We see her as the next-day apologetic drunk who destroys a relationship. We see her in rehab and attending AA meetings. We see her relapse. We see her strained parental relations, and we see her in near isolation in hopes of kicking an addiction that she's not even sure she wants to kick. It's heartbreaking when she admits, "I can't be happy sober." We feel for those who have experienced this with loved ones.

Living in London, Rona is all about the excitement and energy of dancing and partying and socializing ... and drinking. She says she likes how it makes her feel, ignoring the next day misery and regret. Her boyfriend, Daynin (Paapa Esiedu) is supportive and understanding, right up until the point where he's had too much of her self-destructive ways. Rona finally accepts rehab and after 90 days, she heads home to Orkney - a sparsely populated archipelago off the north coast of Scotland. Rona's parents are divorced. Her mom (Saskia Reeves) has turned to religion, while her bipolar dad (Stephen Dilane) lives in a caravan and works his sheep farm on his good days. The desolate environment lacks the constant temptations of London (though she still finds a few), and Rona hopes time in Orkney will be restorative to her health and spirit.

Filmmaker Fingscheidt makes some interesting choices. The film jumps around in time with Rona's flashbacks to moments in her past - some going back to childhood. This jumping around reflects the mental struggles she goes through in her quest for sobriety. There is also a substantial amount of science and nature included. In voiceover, Rona details the specifics of addictive drinking, as well as the mythology of seals and selkies. Saoirse Ronan is superb throughout, yet two scenes stood out for me. The first is when she meets a stranger on the street, displaying her desperation for companionship and socialization. The second comes when she explains to her mother how seaweed is her new passion (her new addiction?) and is her focus for the future.

The only thing close to being as photogenic as Saoirse Ronan is the coastal Scottish landscape. It's both breathtaking for us and claustrophobic at times for Rona as she fights the urges. Rona's job with RSPB had me doing a quick Google search for endangered Corncrakes, and though most of the film left me emotionally drained, watching Rona 'conduct the ocean' provided a welcome jolt of joy.

Opens in theaters on October 4, 2024.

The Outrun is a deeply moving British psychological drama directed by Nora Fingscheidt in 2024. Set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of an isolated island, the film tells the story of a young woman struggling to navigate the tumultuous path between the pull of alcohol addiction and her desperate yearning for recovery.

The movie's visual storytelling is mesmerizing, capturing the raw beauty of the island as a metaphor for the protagonist's internal battle. The juxtaposition of breathtaking landscapes with moments of profound despair adds a layer of emotional depth to the narrative.

What sets The Outrun apart is its ability to portray addiction not just as a personal struggle but as a complex, multifaceted experience shaped by environment, relationships, and inner conflict. The protagonist's journey is neither romanticized nor simplified; it's real, painful, and ultimately, hopeful.

Fingscheidt's direction ensures that every scene resonates emotionally, making it more than just a film-it's an experience. For anyone drawn to stories of resilience, self-discovery, and redemption, The Outrun is a must-see. It leaves you reflecting long after the credits roll.

This movie deftly takes the viewer on a journey to loss and addiction and back again in two intertwined stories - past and present that slip along next to each other, each revealing themselves, piece by piece. Saoirse Ronan's performance embraces both stories with utter conviction. She ably backed up by a small but brilliant cast. At times, you could believe you were watching a 'fly on the wall' documentary, the characters were so unassumingly true to life in their portrayal of the London and Orkney roles. The parents were particularly well played.

Finally, the backdrop. Orkney in winter contributed so much drama and atmosphere.

Recommended.