The Outrun Review

In The Outrun, Rona (played by Saoirse Ronan) is an alcohol addict who, after reaching 90 days of sobriety, decides to return to her home in Orkney, hoping to heal from her troubled past. Through a series of flashbacks, we see her life in London, how casual nights gradually led to addiction, and how her life was slowly turned upside down. We also glimpse her childhood, revealing how those events continue to affect her in the present.

Based on the memoir of the same name by Amy Liptrot the film explores how Rona battles her addiction, showing how alcohol took control of her life and, to an extent, began to dictate it. In her own words, alcohol made her happy. Saoirse Ronan is unrecognisable in this film, portraying a broken woman who is trying her best to fix herself. Throughout the film, Rona must resist the urge to drink, fighting against a part of herself that will always be there. However, as one character says, “It never gets easier; it just gets less hard,” and Ronan conveys this idea exceptionally well.

While I haven’t read the book this film is based on, it’s clear from what is shown that the book didn’t hold back. There are a few scenes where Rona is very intoxicated, and they are filmed in a way that is disorienting. The frame can be out of focus and shaky, resembling how Rona must see the world. I respect Nora Fingscheidt’s decision as the director to not hold back and to portray the horrors surrounding alcoholism authentically.

My biggest issue with the presentation is that I found some of the flashbacks to be somewhat redundant after a certain point. Especially in the latter half of the film, I felt that I didn’t need to see how drunk Rona got, as it had already been clearly established how alcohol affected her. There is a scene near the end that was initially implied but is later shown in more detail, which I wish had remained implied.

Rona’s dad is established as being bipolar early on, and a subplot of the film explores the highs and lows of how his condition affects his life and those around him. I have only encountered one person in my life with bipolar disorder, but seeing the extreme highs and lows that people with this condition can experience was haunting and felt very real.

Alcoholism, in a way, can become the conductor of the orchestra of life when we should be the conductors of our own lives. Here, we see Rona’s journey as she slowly takes back control and learns to live with her addiction. While it is not a perfect journey, this is an impactful story that is worth experiencing.