Saoirse Ronan Shines in The Outrun
A poignant adaptation of Amy Liptrot's award-winning memoir, The Outrun tells the story of a young alcoholic in recovery, played by Saoirse Ronan. With its stunning backdrop of the Orkney Islands, this film is a cinematic experience that explores themes of addiction, recovery, and the power of nature.
Dir: Nora Fingscheidt
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Paapa Essiedu, Nabil Elouahabi, Izuka Hoyle, Lauren Lyle, Stephen Dillane, Saskia Reeves, Naomi Wirthner
118 mins · 2024 · Germany, United Kingdom, France · Cert 15 · English
IMDb 6.9/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 82% · Metacritic 72/100 · TMDB 6.8/10 · Trakt 70%
Awards: Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards. 7 wins & 31 nominations total
The Outrun is a film that will leave you moved and thoughtful, with its honest portrayal of addiction and recovery being both refreshing and brutal. Based on Amy Liptrot's 2016 memoir, the film follows Rona, a young woman who returns to the Orkney Islands after a decade of living life on the edge in London. As she attempts to come to terms with her troubled past, memories of her traumatic childhood merge with more recent challenging events that have set her on the path to recovery. The film's use of sound design and cinematography adds to the intimate and immersive experience, drawing the audience into Rona's world.
The film is a co-production between the United Kingdom and Germany, directed by Nora Fingscheidt and written by Fingscheidt and Amy Liptrot. With a talented cast, including Paapa Essiedt, Nabil Elouahabi, and Stephen Dillane, The Outrun has received critical acclaim, with an IMDb score of 6.9/10 and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 82%. The film has also been nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards and has won 7 awards out of 31 nominations. On Metacritic, the film has a score of 72 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. TMDB users have given the film a score of 6.8/10, while Trakt users have given it a score of 70%.
Critics have praised Saoirse Ronan's performance, with many noting that she delivers a deeply committed and emotionally charged portrayal of Rona. The film's non-linear structure has been praised for its effectiveness in conveying the complexity of Rona's thoughts and feelings. Viewers have also responded positively to the film, with many praising Ronan's performance and the film's honest portrayal of addiction and recovery. Some have noted that the film's shifting timelines and editing can be confusing, but many have found the film to be a powerful and moving exploration of a difficult subject.
The Outrun will be screening at the Duke of York's Picturehouse in Brighton from Thursday, 5 November 2026 to Saturday, 7 November 2026. Tickets are with the button beside the article. With its stunning backdrop of the Orkney Islands and superb performance from Saoirse Ronan, The Outrun is a cinematic experience that is not to be missed.
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What viewers say
someonestolemyoreo · 9/10
People next to me were genuinely concerned by the amount of times I cried through the movie. It was wonderful, beautiful, truly sad, and hopeful.
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FinFan · 6/10
Saorsie was great. Without her I wouldn't have made it through the first 30 minutes. The rest was tough. Not because of its topic but more because of the way it presents itself. The shifting through timelines and the editing isn't my cup of tea. It makes it harder to follow things. Because of that I don't connect with the character. In many way it work more as an advertisement for the Orkney Islands then as a look into addiction and alcoholism.
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blanktheman · 9/10
The movies focus is on addiction and what it does to a person's life. It's very well done and it's from the main character's perspective. A lot is shown in some scenes and there's a lot happening. I think [spoiler] it's her in recovery and she keeps remember her past that was stuck in addiction and how it ruined her life, now we see her trying to make a new life. I think that's why there so many memory flashbacks [/spoiler]. If that's the case…
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Sudden_Taro · 8/10
I really liked this movie. Saoirse Ronan absolutely bodied the role. The back and forth editing that people find confusing makes sense for me. It's rarely all linear. A couple of scenes made me tear up and as someone with a certain relationship with both addiction and bipolar, it was a tough but necessary watch. And I know I'm just missing something with the hair changes allegory..actually probably missing out on a lot but that's what rewatches…
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IHateBadMovies.com · 8/10
How many times have we seen this story told in different ways before? Plenty, but that doesn't matter. The talented people that made this movie threaded the needle and created a movie that told a very personal and compelling story. I can't remember the last time that I saw hope and determination portrayed so well. Saoirse Ronan is such an underrated actress - it is a shame that she isn't a bigger star than she is. Then again, if she was, maybe…
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jeroenvanstrien · 10/10
This is Saoirse Ronan's best role I have ever seen, my goodness, what an amazing actress she is.
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AlfieSGD · 7/10
I would have preferred to like “The Outrun” even more than I actually did in the end. Because there are numerous ingredients for a really great movie. First and foremost, lead actress Saoirse Ronan is a real standout. She delivers a captivating performance that could definitely be described as award-worthy. And secondly, there are the stunning images of the Orkney Islands, which give the film a unique look. However, the plot itself about the…
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MrFlaggsWatchedList · 5/10
Probably Oscar worthy but I didn't care for it. I think I mostly watch her movies just to listen to her talk but any more of that whining and it would have driven me to drink.
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