film review: run lol run

Movie Notes: Run Lola Run

by Dr. Jaime Sanchez

Film director Tom Tykwer was born in 1965 in Germany. He was interested in film making since he was a child, and he eventually moved to Berlin to follow his dream. One of his friends, Rosa von Praunheim, encouraged him to experiment with his work. The result of such experimentation was Because (a short) in 1990. A full-length film, Die todliche Maria, gave him widespread recognition in 1993. Finally, Run Lola Run (1998) was his international breakthrough, and it was very well received by critics and audiences alike.

Run Lola Run is considered a postmodernist film, so it is important to understand this concept. Postmodernist films attempt to break down the conventional structures of narrative, characterization, and other film elements. These films mix high and low art. They also challenge the typical portrayals of time, social class, genre, and social structures such as marriage and family. Postmodernism surged with media culture, and it is interested in fragmentation and contradiction. This film movement removes boundaries; therefore, it mixes different times, cultures, and points of view. Run Lola Run presents a seemingly simple plot, but it analyzes it in three different scenarios. At the same time, each scenario presents a multitude of action lines. The seemingly chaotic mixture provides a deeper meaning that deals with fate, the fight of the individual against an encroaching society, love, betrayal, and hypocritical social structures and values. Run Lola Run begins with two quotes, one from T. Eliot's poem "Little Gidding," and the other one from soccer player and coach "Sepp" Herberger. While the poem deals with cyclical time and thought, human fallibility, and spirituality, Herberger's quote refers to the video game nature of Lola's three attempts in helping Manni. In fact, the action begins when one of the characters kicks a soccer ball. The inciting incident is presented with a phone conversation between Lola and her boyfriend, Manni. The problem is that Manni lost a significant amount of money paid to him for a criminal transaction that he must deliver to his boss, Ronnie. Lola shares some responsibility since she failed to pick up Manni, and he was forced to take the subway, where he lost the money.

The challenge is now to come up with that amount of money in time to give it to Ronnie, so Lola must run to fix the problem. As you watch this film, pay attention to the following:

1. There are constant references and images of time, and time differences lead to very different outcomes in the characters. Consider also secondary characters like Lola's father's mistress, Jutta Hansen.

2. The film presents three different plots based on the same inciting incident. Lola learns in each one of her runs, and she applies this knowledge in subsequent runs. Notice, for example, how she handles a gun in different plots.

3. The director uses snapshots to present the characters' thoughts as well as their past and future. Pay attention to the snapshots and notice how they change in different plots.

4. The plot duration is very similar to the screen duration, yet the audience feels that the action moves very fast. Editing is very important to achieve this effect. Pay attention to shot duration, sound, transitions, camera angles, and implied camera distance.

5. Even though the action moves very fast, there are moments when the pace sharply slows down. Pay attention to these moments.

6. There are many lines of action in the film. Pay attention to them.

7. The film examines very important human problems. In fact, at the beginning of the film, a narrator questions where we are coming from and where we are going. Think about other important themes that the film examines.

Even though Run Lola Run is a very deep film, it is very entertaining and not very difficult to understand. We hope that you enjoy it.