By Becca Johnson October 1, 2024
Regarded as one of the best actresses of our generation, the first of two big-screen releases starring Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird) released this weekend to high praise and eager audiences, as it’s been a while since Ronan has graced our cinemas. Directed by Nora Fingscheidt (The Unforgivable) and based on the memoir of the same name by Amy Liptrot, The Outrun is rooted in a powerful, moving and emotional true story exploring addiction, alcoholism and mental health. It also stars Paapa Essiedu (Men), Stephen Dillane (Zero Dark Thirty) and Saskia Reeves (Nymphomaniac) alongside Ronan.
With an impeccable lead performance, consistently stunning cinematography and a very understanding journey into its central themes, The Outrun is an absolute triumph, and is one of the years best dramas.
Synopsis
After living life on the edge in London, Rona attempts to come to terms with her troubled past. She returns to the wild beauty of Scotland's Orkney Islands where she grew up, hoping to heal.
Review
Many will wish to see The Outrun for Saoirse Ronan alone, and she easily proves this to be warranted, even from the first few frames. The role of recovering alcoholic Rona is no easy feat, yet Ronan tackles it with grace, emotion and clear understanding of her characters struggles. From being carried out of a pub whilst lashing out to looking after her unwell father, she is believable at all times and packs so much emotion into every glance and every line. She is a character that feels incredibly real, and Ronan is largely to thank for this.
Despite this being her film through and through, the side performances are also fantastic. Perhaps the most impressive alongside Ronan is Stephen Dillane, in the role of her father Andrew. Struggling with his mental health and the loneliness that comes with it, Dillane perfectly encapsulates the mix of feelings that come with his bipolar disorder. Paapa Essiedu does great with his minimal screen-time as boyfriend Daynin, who tries his best to deal with Rona’s troubling behaviour when she drinks. The rest of the cast, built up of AA group members and RSPB staff that Rona meets throughout her journey, make The Outrun somehow even more grounded. The use of non-professional actors in many of these sequences ensures we are following real people, with real struggles, proving that those suffering are not alone, and creating a very human film.
The themes at play here are heart-breaking, and as emotional as The Outrun is to sit through at times, it’s a very important watch. Leaving no stone unturned, the script covers all angles of addiction - how it starts and what can cause it, the effect it has on the individual and those around them, the trials and tribulations of recovery, relapse, and how it ‘gets easier, but never easy’, as a friend of Rona tells her. We meet Rona as she returns to her family home fresh out of rehab, and revisit her past through flashbacks of her life from childhood to adulthood. This method of storytelling gives us a dive into Rona’s entire life, helping us understand what led her to rehab and reminding us that addiction can happen to anyone.
Audiences may also be surprised to see The Outrun tackling another dense topic - mental health. From Andrew’s bipolar to Rona’s loneliness and whirlwind of emotions caused by her drinking, the script takes tremendous care and attention whilst exploring this topic, ensuring the development is as thorough as its central theme of addiction. It certainly tackles a lot, but due to its naturalistic approach, it never feels overstuffed and instead feels real. It also has a strong, poignant underlying message of hope that helps to alleviate the heartbreak of those tougher-to-watch scenes.
What helps this make the journey from well-developed character study to superb, perfectly made all-rounder is the attention paid to the technical aspects. Largely set on the Orkney Islands off the Scottish Coast, there is so much focus on the location that it manages to become a character in itself. From the rolling tides to luscious green hills, narration of the islands history to the sweet seals that inhabit the seas, the audience is fully immersed into the countryside setting and it looks and sounds absolutely stunning. Whether it be the whistling wind, the frequent birdsong or the crunch of snow on the ground, every element is accounted for. The juxtaposition of Rona’s brightly coloured hair, whether it be blue or orange, against the suburban backdrop is when the movie looks its best. It showcases her energy and originality beautifully.
Complimenting the excellent cinematography is the editing, that not only helps the story flow but makes those emotional sequences pack even more of a punch. The montages of Rona’s life from childhood to adulthood are particularly strong sequences, managing to encapsulate her whole journey and tie it all together. The original score, composed by Jan Miserre and John Gurtler, compliments the tone of the movie perfectly and elevates every scene.
The Outrun is an incredibly special film, one of the years most introspective, personal and poignant thus far. The performances are expert, especially from Saoirse Ronan, the cinematography stuns, the score is impeccable and the storyline is equal parts heart-breaking and beautiful. Worthy of a viewing on the big screen due to its ability to transport audiences to the Orkney Islands alongside our characters, The Outrun reaches a level of emotion and power that only the best stories and films can achieve.
Star Rating
The Outrun is out now in cinemas
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