MOVIE REVIEWS

It was a stunning night in Christchurch and the screening of The Outrun was starting at 6pm at Lumiere Cinema in the Arts Centre. I was running very early but thought I would wander around before the film. It reminded me just how beautiful Christchurch can be on a good night and it was a great way to wind down prior to the film. I’d usually have a wine at Cellar door but meandering through the wonderful new art installations soaked up way too much time.

In a way I am quite glad I didn’t. 

"The Outrun" (2024), directed by Nora Fingscheidt, is a moving adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s memoir, starring Saoirse Ronan in a compelling lead performance. At first, I felt completely uneasy watching scenarios unfold about a young woman dealing with alcohol abuse and mental illness. I’ve seen this situation unfold in real life far too many times and it made me feel uncomfortable at first. Trying to deal with a timeline that jumps between her battle with sobriety and previous experiences while being under the influence. The cinematography is stunning, and I could almost feel the cold of the self-inflicted exile on the islands of Orkney. The flicking between abuse and recovery was raw.

The film follows Rona, a young woman who returns to her childhood home in the remote Orkney Islands after battling alcoholism in London. As she reconnects with her past, the isolation and rugged beauty of the islands provide a powerful backdrop for her journey of healing and self-discovery. Somewhat confronting. 

Ronas performance was captivating and real and I was intwined in the story from the start. A story I know all to well and while watching felt the anxiety of the character on her journey capturing the struggles of addiction and the pain of returning to a place filled with haunting memories. 

The film’s strength lies in its atmosphere, with Fingscheidt using the sweeping, desolate landscapes to mirror Rona’s inner turmoil. The cinematography beautifully contrasts the serenity of nature with the chaos inside Rona, while the sound design subtly reflects her state of mind.

However, at times the film’s pacing can feel a bit meandering. Despite this, "The Outrun" remains a poignant exploration of recovery, nature, and the difficult journey toward self-acceptance, anchored by Ronan’s powerful performance. I found I got a lot from it. It was confronting and I enjoyed the journey. A reminder that life can be reflected on film. That some people will get more from this than just a trip to a great cinema on a beautiful Cantabrian night. There are others amongst us dealing with the challenges that the character Rona and her family in the film are going through. Lumiere keep serving up film feasts like this and I can’t seem to get enough.