The Outrun Film Review

*Readers note the fallowing film review deals with the topic of Addiction*

The Outrun (Currently playing In Select theatres) 

Dir Nora Fingscheidt 

Starting: Saoirse Ronan 

Run Time: 118 Mins 

    When it comes to autobiographical films there are the myths and the realities that entail it. Hollywood has been known to sometimes embellish the realities into myths to make for sensationalism in the stories. The only myths you find in The Outrun from director Nora Fingscheidt come from the Celtic myths of the sea and nature in Scotland. This is intended to keep the mystery of the natural beauty of the Orkney Islands that Rona has grown up with. Based on the biography of British journalist and author Amy Lipton, the story is nestled in the realities of life of growing up on a farm on the Orkney islands, with a bipolar father. It also chronicles her experiences of moving to London, where she resorted to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism. Told in a non-linear fashion, the only way one can track the storyline is through the hairstyles of Seoirse Ronan who plays Rona and who is going through the same realities as Amy. 

    Growing up on an Orkney farm with her parents Rona is fascinated by the myths and realities that the natural world presents around her. In the realities of the world growing up her dad was not always around for her as he would have manic episodes of bipolarism. However, there is this itch to get away to further her education and career in the field of biology when she moves to London. The only form of modernity on the Orkney farm for Rona comes in when she puts on her headphones and the electronica techno music kicks in. Now estranged from both parents, her mother is now divorced and found religion, which she tries to instill in Rona, who is still dealing with her addiction. It is harder for Rona now as an adult to see her dad going through his episodes when she now knows the reality of them. Rona still attempts to help her dad on the farm. 

    Moving to London is the form of modernity that the film takes over from its natural landscapes of Scotland. Rona settles in with a boyfriend Daynin (Papa Essiedu) and a job in her field of biology at a laboratory. The nightlife that was non-extant on the islands of Orkney are the focal points for Rona’s socializing amongst her friends and partners as they go out to the club for a night of drinking and dancing. Rona sees drinking as a form of freedom and masking her troubled relationship with her family. This puts a strain on her relationship, job and unintentional injuries. One night she is attacked while drunk which leads her to check into a 90-day program. 

    Back on Orkney Island Rona makes a solid attempt to stay sober, alternating working with her father on the farm and living with her mother. Both her parents are separated at this point. We see the strain that both parents put on Rona like their physical or religious burdens, that threaten Rona to relapse.  She attempts to return to London but abandons her plans to leave, taking a job with the Royal Society for the protection of birds that are looking for the elusive bird the corn crake. It is an isolated job where the only source of modernity from the remote community comes back in the form of techno music. In another episode, Rona faces a relapse while dealing with one of her dad’s episodes of depression. She makes the final solid attempt at sobriety by working on the island of Papa Westray, where she rediscovers her love for biology and gets an interest in seaweed biology. The film closes with  Rona who is clean and sober, as she hears the elusive corn cake for the first time, lets out a laugh that this time things will be different. 

    Director Nora Fingscheidt captures the beauty of the Orkney Islands, if the myths are true or not, nothing beats the beautiful scenery. I think there is a great contrast where there is a hectic nature to the camera when it comes to capturing Rona in London, but lingers in showcasing the beauty of the natural landscapes as tranquillity to Rona, even if she puts on the techno music over her headphones. Saoirse Ronan delivers a good performance that might be highlighted come award season, in a more serious tone than her breakout in Lady Bird, but look out for contenders to be Mikey Madison (Anora) and Zoe Saldana (Emilia Pérez). 

Remi is the host of At The Movies Along Co-Host Danny Aubery every Tuesday morning from 8-9 AM only on CJLO 1690 AM. They cover local film festivals, have interviews with directors and actors, and talk about a new film or the classics.