Run, Lola, Run (1999)

It's difficult to create a film that's fast paced, exciting, and aesthetically appealing without diluting its dialogue. Run Lola Run, directed and written by Tom Tykwer, is an enchanting balance of pace and narrative, creating a universal parable that leaps over cultural barriers. This is the story of young Lola (Franka Potente) and her boyfriend Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu). In the space of 20 minutes, they must come up with 100,000 deutsche marks to pay back a seedy gangster, who will be less than forgiving when he finds out that Manni incompetently lost his cash to an opportunistic vagrant. Lola, confronted with one obstacle after another, rides an emotional roller coaster in her high-speed efforts to help the hapless Manni--attempting to extract the cash first from her double-dealing father (appropriately a bank manager), and then by any means necessary. From this point nothing goes right for either protagonist, but just when you think you've figured out the movie, the director introduces a series of brilliant existential twists that boggle the mind. Tykwer uses rapid camera movements and innovative pauses to explore the theme of cause and effect. Accompanied by a pulse-pounding soundtrack, we follow Lola through every turn and every heartbreak as she and Manni rush forward on a collision course with fate. There were a variety of original and intelligent films released in 1999, but perhaps none were as witty and clever as this little gem--one of the best foreign films of the year. --Jeremy Storey Amazon.com essential video

i dont fully comprehend the fascination with this movie

I dont see what the BFD was about this movie. I mean, yeah she looks cool and they do drugs, yay. I thought the experimental "and then" parts were kinda cool. But I just didnt like the movie. I dont think they connected the groundhog day feeling of it all together that well. Or obviously. This was better than the other Groundhog Day in how it was maybe an hour shorter. Not for me. And I usually like off beat movies. Just dont be off beat for the sake of being offbeat. I think I might check out the soundtrack though.
December 15, 2008

run lola run

the movie is great. i never new the bourne identity girl was the same actress in this movie. it's a great movie, every unique.

run lola run. December 12, 2008

"The ball is round. The game lasts minutes. That's a fact."

This heart-pumping, frantic, postmodern German film models itself after a video game, where different choices lead down different paths, to different conclusions, all within the control of the player. And yet, this film is so much more than that.

Franka Potente plays clown-haired Lola, a young woman in love with bumbling Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu) and who finds herself racing against the clock to scrounge up the vast sum of 100,000 marks to save Manni's life. As she runs through Berlin, she bumps into various people, whose fates are shown in flashes of slideshows, who may help or hinder her. The soundtrack is thumping, almost minimalist, with a voice droning over Lola's high-stakes sprint, and it keeps the viewer as breathless as Lola herself.

Because this film messes with the viewer's mind, the plot cannot be fully described without revealing spoilers. Suffice it to say that viewers will have their expectations changed at every step. The production standards are not Hollywood-slick, but director Twyker adeptly portrays both the desperate and the sweet in this story, with brilliant cinematography that takes this film to a high level. As the depth of Lola's and Manni's relationship is revealed, the character form the heart of this surprising, thought-provoking film.

Watch this more than once. You'll love it. December 10, 2008

A fun ride and interesting filmmaking

I saw this one Friday night and soon after bought the dvd. The other reviews give you a plot breakdown, but I will mention a few things I really like. Filmed in Germany(West Berlin) maybe, and lots of outdoor city locations. I have only viewed the sub-titled version, and it works great. A couple dialogue- heavy scenes which require some reading, but not too taxing. I do have a thing for most things German, so I like hearing the language. Also a fine soundtrack in this film! Techno and pulsing, watch this on a home theatre or with a high quality audio system. It really adds to the experience imho. Plus I enjoyed the little "snapshot" stills that Twyker throws in along the way. Very cool.
Some negative reviewers say they didn't get the film and it was repetitive. Just go along for the ride and enjoy the sights and sound. In my opinion this is a real good way to spend an hour and a half. Try it out! Thanks for reading my sort of disjointed review. December 6, 2008

great movie

this is a movie you can watch again and again and discover new things every time. I use it in my German high school classroom and the students like the fast pace and the music. The actress, Franka Potente, went on to play in several well known hollywood productions after Run Lola Run. She's the girlfriend in Bourne Identity. She's great in this movie! September 7, 2008

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