“I can’t be happy sober.”
When trapped in the throes of addiction, escape can feel impossible. This is the premise of The Outrun, a film that steps into the psychology of addiction in ways that few films are willing to do. Beautifully written and executed, Outrun understands the lows (and highs) of fighting through substance abuse but always keeps its eye upon hope’s horizon.
Directed by Nora Fingscheidt, The Outrun tells the story of Rona (Saoirse Ronan), a young woman battling her addiction to alcohol. Weaving between timelines, we watch as Rona attempts to navigate the difficulties of her separated parents, her mother (Saskia Reeves) a devout woman of faith and her father (Stephen Dillane) struggling with bipolar disorder. At the same time, we witness the destruction of her relationship with her true love and the steps that she takes in order to get sober. Taking a job surveying the islands for the endangered bird, corncrakes, Rona tries to bring some stability to her life. Alternating between nights of partying and searching for peace, Rona works hard to survive the perils of addiction and the need for grace.
Stylistically, Outrun leans into the erratic nature of its subject matter. Completely disjointed in its storytelling, the film is meant to feel as unpredictable as Rona’s journey. By weaving between timelines, Fingscheidt ensures that the viewer never feels fully stable. Just as Rona battles within her own personal demons, we become immersed in the ebb and flow of her road to recovery. In some moments, she holds on to a peaceful mind.
In others, she is the very eye of the storm.
But Fingscheidt plays these moments out in such a way that they seem to stumble over one another. They say that recovery isn’t a straight line—and Fingscheidt’s fractured timeline ensures that we witness that first hand. Each day, Nora’s struggles include moments of both restoration and destruction. She lays waste to her relationships but we also see the hopefulness of where her journey could lead.
Admittedly, much of the film’s success is due to a powerful performance by Ronan. An absolute veteran of the business at her relatively young age, this may be some of her best work as she absolutely offers the best pieces of her soul. In each scene, her eyes tell very different stories. Rona is a woman of denial, rage, hurt and, at times, humility. She is the epitome of erratic as she clambers for moments of comfort. But, despite the wild range that’s required of the performance, Ronan delivers at every opportunity.
In many ways, Outrun comes to life through its use of colours. Strictly from the visuals, we can sense the sort of inner turmoil that she experiences. As she falls deeper into her addictive spells, we sit in darkness. Led by filtered lighting and neon lasers, Rona’s partying feels blanketed in the shadows. However, Fingscheidt counterbalances this with the lush greens and blues of the natural world as Rona rebuilds her life. The tension between light and darkness within these moments highlight the intensity of her struggle to fight her demons, creating a sort of sensory experience that augments the film’s emotional core.
Even so, despite the destruction that she leaves in her wake, Outrun never has anything by empathy for Rona. We understand why those around her would want their space but want her to find healing. We watch with sadness as the violent nature of her addiction tears at her soul. Even so, Outrun never views her with anything but compassion. After all, this is a woman who believes that she ‘can’t be happy sober’. To her, there is nothing beyond her need to drink yet Fingscheidt’s structure gives the viewer hope on her behalf.
In this way, there’s a certain beauty about Outrun that remains with the viewer after the credits roll. By its shifting structure, the film recognizes that healing is rarely ever a straight line. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t progress either. Rona moves forward and back in ways that still feel like she’s moving in the right direction, even when the past feels like it collides with the future.
The Outrun is available in theatres now.
