Saoirse Ronan gives a stirring performance in beautiful, poetic drama

For a first-time feature director to focus on a story that is inspired by true events is a bold choice, but Nora Fingscheidt is up to the task. Featuring an exceptional performance by Saoirse Ronan and a stunning grasp of interiority and visual poetry, The outrun Is a wonderful feature debut that could have been elevated further by stronger form. Despite her occasional stumbles, the director, who co-wrote the screenplay with Amy Liptrot, the author of the novel on which the film is based, has a clear vision and a good instinct for storytelling.

The outrun is poetic narration

Through close-ups, Nora Fingscheidt brings us into Rona’s inner world and thoughts. The non-linear narrative unfolds as we explore Rona’s jumbled mind and memories, revealing what led her to return to live with her mother and work on her father’s farm. The outrun Oscillates between Rona’s time in London and Scotland’s Orkney Islands, in and out of Rona’s drunken moments, her time in rehab, and the deterioration of her relationship with boyfriend Daynin (Paapa Essiedu). This gives you a good sense of Rona’s life and struggles, although it requires some patience.

Often, the film feels like a painting. The cinematography captures the most gorgeous parts of nature – waves furiously splash against rocks, and seals sweetly call back to Ronan as she swims beside them. The film is clever in creating a balance between Ronan and the nature that surrounds her, as she finds her way back to herself through it. Whether it’s animals, the wind or the sea, Ronan doesn’t feel so lost when she’s among them, and the film is gentle, almost poetic, in its exploration of her personal journey and its connections to listening to her surroundings.

However, the film can be a bit tedious at times, and its structure could have benefited from a stronger core. It’s only in the last 15 or 20 minutes that the film finds itself in the direction it’s trying to take Ronan, and if it had been there a little sooner, it wouldn’t have felt like the story was any longer than it was. Should be. At nearly two hours long, this becomes an issue as the film gets lost in a cycle of relentless misery. Despite this, Fingscheidt generally has a firm grasp of the ending and Ronan’s journey.

Saoirse Ronan’s performance is powerful and emotional

To that end, Saoirse Ronan gives another strong performance. The actress has an incredible emotional range, and she can easily shift from a joyful moment to a solemn one. In her hands, Ronan feels fully formed, someone whose struggles demand the greatest empathy. She is a force, capable of conveying the anger and pain she feels, and throws it at others in equal measure, as well as the silent thoughts she experiences throughout. Essiedu is also a standout, although he gets much less for obvious reasons. And yet, in his short time on screen, he is incredibly expressive, every glance weighted and meaningful.

The movie shifts effortlessly between one point in time and the other, and it’s superb at digging into Ronan’s internal struggles and the emotions that come with them. A little trimming could have done the pacing a lot of good, especially as it traps itself in Ronan’s continued and unresolved issues. But perhaps that’s the point in the end, with Fingscheidt and Liptrot providing a nuanced understanding of addiction and the hold it has on Ronan.

With a strong central performance and an occasionally chaotic but nonetheless captivating and moving narrative – helped along by fantastic editing and cinematography – The outrun is a detailed film strengthened by its connection to nature’s beauty and belonging to it.

The outrun Now playing in theaters. The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. It is 118 minutes long and rated for language and brief sexuality.