Run Club follows Scott, a young person on the run. We think he's running towards his ex-girlfriend, whom he cheated on 6 months ago, but in fact Scott is running away from the hardest thing that's ever happened to him.
The film also explores how often women are expected to solve men's problems, what if they didn't (!), and the absurd things we can be driven to do in grief.
Under the guise of a desperate cross-country run to win back a lost love, a hilariously relentless journey unravels into a frantic attempt to outrun unbearable grief and tragedy.
Director Statement
I have been looking to direct for years, I'm not sure why it's taken me this long. Probably because I knew I'd love it and never want to act again. Which is exactly what happened after shooting RUN CLUB. I am delighted my first time was directing fellow Scottish talent Ruaridh Mollica leading a wonderful cast.
My breadth of experience working professionally in the industry over the last 13 years drove me to directing this laced in comedy, emotional drama.
My biggest fear is my mum dying, so with Brook Driver, our writer, being able to explore the harsh, stark, manic feeling of what that might be like was really moving. It felt urgent and the right time as I hit my 30s watching my parents grow older. I know so many people go through this feeling very viscerally and I wanted to explore it.
I also always want my work to incorporate humour, that's how I view and cope with the world. So Run Club found a way of melding meaning and lightness into a film. The absurd things we can do in the height of emotion. And lets face it, everyone is hitting up run clubs nowadays to date.
Scott is trying to run towards someone whilst running away from so much more.
Our editors said they feel like this film is part of something bigger, and I agree. It explores deep, real themes in a tangible way I suspect a lot of the world will relate to.
The depths and absurdity of grief.
About the Director.
Lauren Lyle is a Scottish double BAFTA winning actor who has lead critically acclaimed TV shows such as Karen Pirie (ITV/Disney+, Britbox), The Ridge (BBC) and Outlander (STARZ).
Her film career has spanned from indie award winner The Outrun starring Saoirse Ronan, Tell It To The Bees with Holliday Grainger and Oscar winner Anna Paquin, as well as cult classic Something in The Water from Studio Canal.
She was recently seen alongside Connor Swindells and Peter Mullen in The Bombing of Pan Am 103 as well as Toxic Town with Aimee Lou Wood and Jodie Whittaker both for Netflix. This is her first foray into directing.
She additionally hosts her globally successful culture podcast SHE'S A REC' interviewing very cool people about the films, albums and books by women that have most influenced their life.
