A visually nuanced film with a charismatic vibe and a stellar lead, The Outrun is an individual story about alcoholism that I’ve never seen play out so engagingly.
There are many films that have been made about alcoholism. It is a struggle that a great number of families have been touched by and seeing yourself or your loved ones on film can be a key factor in helping people connect. When I think of movies in this category, Leaving Las Vegas and When A Man Loves A Woman come to mind. But while both leave their own impact on the viewer, you never quite get to know the original human behind the alcohol. That is part of what makes this movie different.
The Outrun is the story of Rona, a biology graduate in Scotland who is just leaving 90-days of rehab for alcoholism. She stays with her father, a man with bipolar disorder who has had significant ups and downs during her entire life, and then with her mother, a woman who has become very Christian and surrounds herself with friends who feel similarly. Rona searches for a path forward while thinking about how things ended with her ex-husband and trying to find ways to occupy her mind while managing cravings.
Told in a non-linear fashion, this film (based on a book) is unlike most others that I can think of. It is not about the story, but about Rona herself. She is a heavily intellectual and curious woman, as seen through her frequent narration about things on the island. While showing visuals as if in a biology class, she explains chemical breakdowns of how alcohol affects the human brain and stomach lining, how homo sapien DNA is different from cucumber or jellyfish, and countless other interesting facts. This is all juxtaposed with the times where she is completely out of control and hurting herself and those around her.
This is also a commentary on loneliness, which can sometimes be felt most when we’re surrounded by people. She is alone in her alcoholism, although she parties with friends. She is alone in her family life, although each of her parents are in attendance. And she is alone in her marriage as she pushes him away with her sickness.
Visually, The Outrun is gorgeous. With sometimes muted colors, there is always something vibrant peeking in. Whether it is the blue tips in her blonde hair, left there to explain the timeline, differently colored fingernails, the barely pink hue to her swimsuit, or the gorgeous closeup of a blue eye with flecks of orange and yellow, you never get tired of watching.
Saoirse Ronan is spectacular as Rona. I don’t think I can name a role where she affected me more and it’s sad to me that she didn’t get more recognition. Rona conducts the symphony of her life, and Ronan is the perfect vehicle for it.
I also loved the tone of the film. It is serious and painful, but also natural and beautiful and fun, like the weather. It ebbs and flows. It reaches inside of you because, somehow, even though you can’t name why, it feels familiar.
This is a fantastic movie that I recommend to everyone. It is beautiful to watch, thematically interesting, and told in such a fashion that you continue to really enjoy it. Plus, she mentions selkies. Why aren’t there more movies about selkies?
Runtime: 118 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? No
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Available: Free on Netflix, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
There are many films that have been made about alcoholism. It is a struggle that a great number of families have been touched by and seeing yourself or your loved ones on film can be a key factor in helping people connect. When I think of movies in this category, Leaving Las Vegas and When A Man Loves A Woman come to mind. But while both leave their own impact on the viewer, you never quite get to know the original human behind the alcohol. That is part of what makes this movie different.
