The Outrun

EIFF - Film #1

I sadly came out of this really dissatisfied. I think it goes without saying but this is a really admirable story to put on screen, or to just open up and disclose in any form of media, alcoholism and the tribulations that come with it are no laughing matter, and I do think this film excelled at its authentic portrayal of substance abuse which many will feel is a real account of the problems they face and for that I admire it.

I really take issue with the way this story was adapted into a film. We follow Nora on her journey to sobriety, but the film opts to tell this story in a non-linear fashion. I’m a fan of non-linear narratives, but they have to contribute to the story, there has to be a reason why the film is choosing to tell its story in this way, and I just don’t think it justifies this at all sadly.

Firstly, minus the changes in Nora’s hair, it is at times difficult to follow at what point in her life you are. It’s odd as there’s scenes where you feel invested in what’s going on in her life at that moment and the next scene just completely cuts away from this and diffuses any story which was forming.

It’s odd cause the copious amount of flashbacks don’t add much to her story. We learn she lives in London with her boyfriend far too many times, she’s an alcoholic, her friends don’t know how to handle this, and… what is this trying to say bar the obvious as it feels like it’s very tell don’t show. With a non-linear narrative as well really no supporting characters ever get any characterisation, even in the latter half which slows down, we learn her dad has mental health issues and her mum is religious but that’s it, not that any of them need depth but when you keep cutting back to characters with no depth it’s hard to be invested.

I do think the reason the story was told like this is to build tension, something which is quite successful throughout the film but specifically in the back half. However, for this build up of tension there needs to be a climax which feels worthy of telling the story like this and there just isn’t. There is a climax and it’s honestly one of the best parts of the film, it really feels like a grandiose scene with some beautiful score but it’s lacking substance. Why is this a climax? I know the film is telling you it is but it just feels and looks like a climax with relatively little reason to be a climax. I think this would have been heaps better had it just be told as a linear story