Product: Run, Lola, Run [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 4.0
This film is challenging and asking.
In this film, the director, Tom Tykwer challenges to Hollywood movies, which is to break the female role. In "Run Lola Run", Lola is a hero. Making a heroin into a hero is the new way. Also, how Lola dresses is challenging to the cinematic male gaze. The typical Hollywood heroin is skinny, having a long hair, wearing high heels and smiling. However, Lora doesn't have any of these elements. Tywker's challenge leaves us a question. Is Lora a hero all the way in the film? Although Lola is trying to be a hero to save Manni, Tykwer makes the last scene close to what traditional endings in Hollywood movies. The close up shot of Lola and Minni holding hands is ironic because it seems like it is a happy ending. This ending asks audiences that "Is Lola really happy?". Lola wants to save Manni but he solves the problem himself. Even though Lola breaks the gender role, her lover Manni is in control of a situation.However, by making the ironic ending, the third part is stood out from first two parts. The third part is more realistic than other two parts because Lora's situation is similar to what female positions in Hollywood and everyday lives. Therefore, I think Tykwer is asking that how we think about Lora's situation which is familiar to us.