Paul J. Nemecek Run, Lola, Run is a thoroughly postmodern film. Stylistically, the film uses a variety of visual devices and storytelling strategies that are increasingly common in postmodern films. In theme, the film captures the essence of a postmodern worldview by treating life as a series of random occurrences devoid of any central meaning. Run, Lola, Run is really a short avant-garde film told three different times with variations on theme.Our central characters are Manni and Lola, a couple living on the fringe of underworld life in Germany. The story begins with Manni calling Lola in desperation. He had taken an assignment to deliver some illegal materials in exchange for 100,000 deutschmarks. As manning is riding the subway home, after the exchange, police board the train. Manni is so unnerved that he exits the train leaving his bag of money behind. He has twenty minutes to find and deliver the money of his life is forfeit. Lola tells him to not do anything rash, slams down the phone, and takes off running.This is the starting point of all three acts of this three-act play. Each time through something slightly different occurs at the beginning. This seemingly trivial event changes the trajectory of the action, which affects everyone, and everything involved in slightly different ways. The message here is that the significance we attach to our lives is the result of random events over which we have little control. It is fitting that the most positive of the three different endings involves a casino and a game of chance. This film is not exactly inspiring, but it is profound and very well done. This is not a film to build a life around, but it is an important film about the postmodern milieu, and Tom Twykwer's writing and direction are creative and engaging.

filmtogo This one was probably the big breakthrough of Tom Tykwer. He got a lot of praise for "Lola rennt" - the original German title - in Germany and as "Run Lola Run" his movie brought him worldwide attention and a huge followership as kind of a mainstream arthouse auteur director. The music sets the pace as we listening to a fast beating heartbeat. This film never slows down. Franka Potente - the main actress - is always in motion, she never gets a rest here. Same thing with the cinematography. It's a music video in MTV style really. Tracking shots, close-ups, sometimes the live action story switches to Lola as running cartoon character. When she meets, bump into or screams at a passerby, we get quick flashes of their lifes and how they will turn out after this butterfly-effect encounter. "Run Lola Run" is structured in three different processes of the same story with every single story showing a different decision made by Lola and how the story changes because of it. It's not only Lola who runs, it's the whole film that is running away and we have to be fast and coming along to don't lose track of Franka Potente and Tykwers swift style.

dragokin When Run Lola Run hit the scene my then girlfriend urged me to see it because it was great. I attributed that to the color of her hair, almost as Lola's screaming red, and dismissed the issue.Almost a decade later i came upon a DVD copy on sale in a local store and purchased it. Boy was my initial estimate wrong.From today's perspective, the writing and photography of Run Lola Run are a regular staple in any thriller. However, for the time of it's creation it was revolutionary, although not the first movie to use these means. Not to mention that this movie came from Germany, a country not exactly at the forefront of world's cinematography.The only thing i could complain about is that photography reminded me of TV quality not necessarily cinema level, but that's a detail.And if you're wondering where the floating tram was filmed, it was Wuppertal, apparently the only reason to visit the city.

Bjorn Olafsson The editing and pacing of this movie kept you interested and often intrigued by its strangeness. I particularly enjoyed the red phone interspersed with the red bag as they both fell to the ground. Great performances by the two main lovers. The action is simple, yet very effective. Often the filmmaker seems excessively showing off (the entire cartoon sequence felt unnecessary). Incredibly enjoyable and enough to ponder on. I loved the slight differences between the three runs. As the movie got more and more invested in the outcome, the coincidences and run-ins that Lola endured became wonderful to behold. It felt intelligent and exciting at the same time.