Rona (Saoirse Ronan) has left her fast-paced life in London for Scotland’s far-flung Orkney Islands, hoping the stark change of scene will help in her battle with alcohol addiction, which led to the recent collapse of her relationship with Daynin (Paapa Essiedu).
Living in a humble, isolated abode, she volunteers with a wildlife conservation charity while privately confronting the issues that first drove her to alcohol, such as the erratic behaviour of her bipolar father, who also lives on the islands, and with whom she has remained close.
Nora Fingscheidt adapts Amy Liptrot’s memoir with a fine blend of naturalism, poeticism, and a nervous energy reminiscent of System Crasher (2019), her breakthrough film. Shuffling the chronology of Rona’s story allows us to view her journey from multiple perspectives, presenting an empathetic, three-dimensional portrayal of addition and hard-won recovery.
