Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Oct 20, 2024
Table of Contents
Every year, there is a film that stands out from the rest. It isn’t occupied with fancy visual effects, grand stories, or even a showcase of artlike qualities. While these elements find their way into the film in subtle ways, ‘The Outrun’ (2024) manages to include an experimental structure, subdued character development, and a plethora of symbolic value with a story of addiction and the never ending struggle of trying with all heart to end it. A story that many people, especially women, will find relatability in. Helmed by rising director Nora Fingscheidt and acclaimed actress Saoirse Ronan in the lead role, ‘The Outrun’ manages to be the film of 2024 that so far succeeds in being artistic and stimulating while also a contemplative into the darker parts of life.
Anyone who has or is struggling with addiction of any kind will in no doubt find connection in ‘The Outrun’. Saoirse Ronan plays a young woman named Rona who has a chronic addiction to alcohol. The most painful parts of the film are when at multiple moments Rona goes on the track of ending her addiction through programs and starts to see her life returning to sanctity only for everything to lose control once she takes another drink. All that is shown is in relation to the real story of Amy Liptrot, a journalist who wrote the book this film is based on as a memoir of her own experiences struggling with alcoholic addiction while growing up in the Orkney Islands in Scotland where the film also takes place in. Knowing this makes the film feel more authentic in its depiction of alcoholism instead of any kind of sensationalized or even romantic portrait of the sort. It shows the real difficulties of staying sober and that people’s emotional attachments to harmful substances are what makes recovery nearly impossible for some like Rona. Despite subjecting herself to all kinds of harmful mindsets and chaotic lifestyle, there is still a deep sentimental feeling throughout the film. Rona relays her childhood stories relating to the Ocean and eventually develops interests relating to Oceanic conservation. Watching Rona working on her father’s farm and watching Seals on the beach implies for her audience feel a sense of nostalgia for simpler times now past.
This character study is all brought together by Saoirse Ronan whose fantastic lead performance embodies these traits and struggles while never feeling like a show off, yearning for an Oscar. Ronan’s previous roles in ‘Lady Bird’ (2017) and ‘Little Women’ (2019) are also of young women who are outsiders in search of a life that’s contradictory to what is thought of as the status quo. Despite the similarity in character, Ronan manages to expand her acting ability in ‘The Outrun’ as she seamlessly transforms into a recovering addict full of pain and harmful impulses. All of this is to show that Ronan has become one of the most talented actresses in the modern age, giving performances that are both realistic and dramatic in independent and larger productions alike.
Very few movies released in the modern day have the ambition to tell their story out of order. Lots of planning, imagining, talented execution, and trust in the audience is needed for a film to tell the story in a nonlinear structure. Gladly, ‘The Outrun’ manages to avoid any threats of incomprehensibility due to a very simple detail. Rona has a distinct hair color that changes from one scene to another. One sequence may see her hair dyed blue at the ends while the next its orange and the proceeding has the same as the scene before. If one focuses on this specific aspect as each scene begins, the film becomes much easier to follow. The director, Nora Fingscheidt could have instead told the story in a linear fashion, choosing a slice of life approach that is perhaps easier to follow. The choice in telling the story this way is not just done for aesthetic purposes but a unique way of placing the audience in the characters head. Rona might be shown with a black eye and in a worse place In fact, the film acts more like a recounting of Rona’s experiences in addiction as a memoir. Her mind is constantly going back and forth between prominent periods of her life. Periods of repeated pain and alcoholism. Attempts to change only to fall back into old ways. Connections made then severed. All showcased with unflinching vulnerability.
The Ocean: A World of Unpredictability, Inconsistency, and Beauty
Forefront in the presentation of ‘The Outrun’ is the presence of the ocean in the characters’ world. The film takes place on the Orkney Islands which never seem to find sun and are bombarded by constantly violent winds. Many breathtaking sequences serve to immerse the audience in the ocean’s beauty. Rona takes many walks on the beach, often invited by people and Seals alike to let go and immerse herself into it. Yet throughout the film, she never does. The water is cold, unpredictable, and violent just like life. But just as chaotic as the Ocean and life are, such is the case that we must cultivate and take care of both. One of the most compelling scenes is towards the end where Rona swims in the ice cold ocean water. Throughout the film, she has walked on the beach beside and even watched groups of other people enjoy themselves in the water, but has refused to go in. Towards the finale, Rona finally returns to the beach and goes in, finding the water cold and initially difficult to handle, but eventually goes all in and swims around. This scene is so special because of its metaphorical connection to life itself. The Ocean itself represents the scary reality of going out into the world and experiencing what a lifetime has to offer. But, all young people like Rona must eventually accept life as it is instead of resorting to impulse and substances to distract from the reality. After months of recovery and hitting roadblocks, Rona finally finds a passion in seaweed conservation to pursue as a career. Her impulses towards alcohol are no longer a problem and she has found a place in the world.
While the film may not be fit into everyone’s cup of tea due to its unflinching look at someone’s life that people of various backgrounds and life experiences can find connection in. How life is difficult and the process of recovering from a harmful lifestyle is more complex than many might assume. Bolstered by great directing and acting, as well as being based on a very personal memoir, ‘The Outrun’ remains one of the year’s most unique and speculative films that is sure to see at least a handful of nominations in end of the year awards season.
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Paapa Essiedu, Stephen Dillane
Director of Photography: Yunus Roy Imer | Editor: Stephan Bechinger | Writers: Amy Liptrot, Daisy Lewis, Nora Fingscheidt | Producers: Sarah Brocklehurst, Dominic Norris, Jack Lowden, Saoirse Ronan | Director: Nora Fingscheidt
By Elijah van der Fluit
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Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
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