THE OUTRUN*****

THE OUTRUN is a brilliantly constructed and occasionally visually and aurally beautiful film about a young woman getting sober.  It doesn't cover up any of the pain and violence and hurt of her journey, including relapse, but culminates in a scene of such visceral euphoria that it leaves you hopeful.

The film was produced by and stars Saoirse Ronan (BLITZ) as Rona.  The film intercuts three eras in Rona's life. In her old life in London she parties hard to EDM, gets drunk and lashes out at her long-suffering boyfriend (Paapa Essiedu) to the point where she hits bottom and ends up in a strict residential programme.  In her new sober life back home in Orkney - and a series of ever smaller islands off its coast - we see her serendipitously find a new passion for life.  The third strand sees Nora remembering her childhood, with her father (Stephen Dillane) suffering bouts of severe depression.

The film is based on a memoir by Amy Lippintrot, adapted for the screen by director Nora Fingscheidt.  I love that it balances gritty reality with hope but never feels mawkish.  Even a final flourish in the end feels earned and light.  Ronan is - as we expect - stunning and raw and vulnerable in the central role.  But note also Dillane's subtly heartbreaking performance as her dad.  

As one might expect from a film based in some of the most harsh but beautiful land and seascapes, the film looks fantastic. But most importantly, it sounds fantastic. From needle drops, to the score by John Guertler and Jan Miserre, to the sound design by Jonathan Schorr and Oscar Steibitz.  Just as with SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, THE OUTRUN is doing something special with sound that takes us into the mind of its protagonist and reflects the pressures bearing down as well as joyous release. This culminates in a wonderful scene on a beach where a now sober Rona is conducting the waves in a moment of euphoria, contrasted and intercut with her old life dancing to EDM.  This film really is something special.

THE OUTRUN is rated R and has a running time of 118 minutes. It played Sundance 2024 and was released in the UK in September and in the USA in October.