Sundance 2024: ‘The Outrun’ Makers Hope to Encourage Compassion for Addiction

“It’s very rude. It’s cold, windy and harsh,” says Nora Fingscheidt.

This is Nora Fingscheidt, director of The Outrun. She says she likes characters who struggle with their inner demons—stories in which the antagonism is more than an external struggle.

“The cruelty of nature combined with this very honest story of Amy’s life is what moved me so much,” says Fingscheidt.

Based on Amy Liptrot’s memoir of the same name, Outrun is her story of recovery and recovery from addiction, set in Scotland’s remote Orkney Islands. Fans of the book will notice some differences in the film. Liptrot says the main character has a new name.

“Her name is no longer Amy. Her name is Rona. And this allowed me to approach the material in a new way and give myself room for fictional elements to create a new work of art,” says Liptrot.

Liptrot wants fans to know that this is a new take on the same material.

“They will really be able to see – visually – Orkney and Popeye Island (Pope Westray),” says Liptrot.

Fingscheidt says he hopes the film will help people develop empathy for those struggling with addiction.

“People say, ‘Yeah, you’re sober, now get on with your life,’ but it’s not that easy. If you are in recovery, it is a lifelong process. And it goes back and forth, like a dance.”

The main character was played by Saoirse Ronan.

“We have all experienced addiction to one degree or another. And I’m no different. So there are scenes in the film that were incredibly frustrating for me to bring to life, and a deeper understanding of what it’s like to be in the shoes of someone who goes through this every single day.

Ronan says there are a lot of non-actors in the film. These are people in recovery telling their ongoing stories.

“We included them and they just made the film richer and they had a lot to do with the performance I give. I’m very grateful to them,” says Ronan.

FULL INTERVIEWS