Run

Wi an accent that's ainly heard in a 20 mile radius this ane is fer the locals. But it did capture 'at feelin ae helplessness an sobriety ae the broch an did hae a realism tae the ending. Escape noo!

This is quite an interesting observational piece that goes some way to illustrating the lack of opportunities and activities in small, one-industry, towns. This film is based around Fraserburgh - a town of 13,000-odd folk in the north of Scotland that is home to a fishing fleet but very little else. Mark Stanley is "Finnie" a Fraserburgh lifer who works in a fish processing factory. His son does too, at least until the start of this 24 hour dip into their family lives. His wife works in a hairdressers and they have another younger schoolboy child. Late at night, after a fairly "lively" attempt at a family dinner, "Finnie" borrows his son's car and goes for a bit of a joyride - picking up his son's pregnant ex-girlfriend en route and they race a few local youths then the breakers on the sea wall... anything for an adrenalin rush, it would seem. Unfortunately, we only really get a superficial look at the characters; the frustrations and mundanity of their existence is writ large, but therein lies the film's problem - it is a bit like watching goldfish in a dirty bowl; we see but cannot empathise or really engage. There is lots of pent up anger amongst the family; but also some affection - which neither "Finnie" nor his son "Kid" (Anders Hayward) have a clue how to demonstrate. It is worth watching, but is remarkably unfulfilling and empty.

Not sure why the previous review would describe this as "Incomprehensible". Anything will be incomprehensible if it is in a language that you don't understand. I am from Aberdeen, not Buchan and I understood it just fine.

Much as I liked Local Hero, the Scots language was dumbed down for the benefit of the wider audience. This film on the other hand has a much better crack at authenticity.

Most scenes are literally dark but street and car lights provide metaphorical shafts of brightness throughout.It gives the impression that the sea port of Fraserburgh is a uniquely insulated area however the story whilst brutally realistic in many respects is also insightful and poignant. The car race is amazingly professional with unexpected sharp-intake-of-breath-hair-raising scenes. The young local actor Scott Murray is refreshing and natural. He provides light-hearted amusement with his best line being a plaintive voice calling from upstairs, "Dad we've run out of lavvy roll." slang for toilet paper. Mark Stanley, is authentic and grasps the strong local dialect whilst effectively portraying the mundane, gruelling existenceof a fish-filleter. Graham captures the boy-racers' time honoured rendezvous at the 'Flaggy' and almost tragically refers to the only night club in town. His raw perception of small town culture is revealing with its depiction of a dead-end repetitive lifestyle which the main character, in his youth, had every intention to run from. Yet even though he can foresee his life choices being replayed by his son the film ended beautifully with an illuminating realization and ray of hope. Definitely worth watching.

Run has been described as Fast and Furious does Kitchen Sink drama.

If only it was half as interesting than that concept.

Starting out with Bruce Springsteen's iconic lyrics for Born to Run. It also ends with a Springsteen song.

Finnie (Mark Stanley) is a fish factory worker in his 30s in Aberdeenshire. With two teenage kids, life is passing him by.

One night he borrows his drag racer son's car for a joyride. The need for speed gives him a thrill.

The film has a brooding performance from Stanley. It has a strong dialect but it was not an issue for me.

It just lacked a strong story. It had too much navel gazing. Springsteen sang about escaping. Here the characters realise that they have nowhere to run.