The Outrun
Content Advisory: Rape and Sexual Assault, Animal cruelty or animal death, Self-injurious behavior, Substance abuse or alcoholism
A recovering alcoholic returns home to a remote Scottish island in The Outrun. The life of 29-year-old Rona (Saoirse Ronan) has been derailed by her alcoholism, which destroyed both her career and relationship with her boyfriend Daynin (Paapa Essiedu). After undergoing 90 days of rehab, Rona returns home to the Orkney Islands of Scotland, where she stays with her ultra-religious mother Annie (Saskia Reeves) and helps out on the farm of her bipolar father Andrew (Stephen Dillane). Following a setback in her recovery, Rona further secludes herself on the remote island of Papay.
The Outrun Synopsis
The Outrun is a drama co-written and directed by Nora Fingscheidt, based on the memoir of the same name by Amy Liptrot. The film stars Saoirse Ronan (Foe) as Rona, whose alcoholic lifestyle results in her hitting rock bottom. The plot of the film is presented in a non-linear fashion, as the present-day action on the Orkney Islands is contrasted with flashbacks to Rona living in London and how her hard-drinking affected her life, particularly her relationship with her boyfriend Daynin, played by Paapa Essiedu (Men). The fluctuating chronology of the film is visualized by Rona’s dyed hair colour, ranging from her natural blonde to blue, pink, and finally flaming orange in the climax.
My Thoughts on The Outrun
It can be easy to classify The Outrun‘s narrative about recovering from alcoholism as Oscar bait. While these types of films sometimes lead to Oscar gold, as was the case for Nicolas Cage in 1995’s Leaving Las Vegas, other roles are forgotten come Oscar season, such as Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s performance in 2012’s Smashed. It is probably safe to say that Saoirse Ronan’s performance is closer to the former and may result in the 30-year-old actress’ fifth overall Oscar nomination.
One of the themes of The Outrun involves the healing power of nature, as Rona returns home to Scotland’s Orkney Islands, with her ordeal running parallel to the Scottish folktale about the shape-shifting seals known as Selkies, who would find themselves trapped on land if spotted in their human form. Rona also gets a job surveying the islands for corncrakes, an endangered bird with a distinctive call. Rona’s renewed connection nature comes to a climax, with the very sensory-heavy final sequence of the film.
Apart from Saoirse Ronan’s performance, there isn’t much else to take away from The Outrun, apart from the idyllic shots of the Orkney Islands. It is a bit humorous to note that Ronan does not change her Irish brogue for the film and at one point Rona explains away her “weird accent” by the fact that she has English parents. It is also neat how The Outrun takes a page from Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and marks the passage of time, based on what colour Rona’s hair is dyed.
Altogether, The Outrun is a solid drama about recovering from alcoholism. That said, while Saoirse Ronan’s performance is likely going to attract awards attention, there is little else in the film that will leave a lasting impression. Even the subplot about the bipolar episodes of Rona’s father, played by Game of Thrones’ Stephen Dillane, come off as unresolved by the end.
Trailer for The Outrun
