Product: Run, Lola, Run [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 5.0
Philosophy + Film + Frantic Pace = an incredible film
"Run Lola Run" (the English rendering of the German "Lola Rennt", of which a mroe literal translation is "Lola Runs") was the feature debut of actor Franka Potente (Lola) and director Tom Tykwer. Both deliver command performances.The plot revolves around Lola's attempt to find 10 000 marks for her boyfriend, Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu), who risks death at the hands of his gangster boss if he doesn't come up with the money. Lola's response to Manni's frantic phone call in the opening scenes is to run to her father's bank to see if he can help, encountering a series of passers-by along the way.Where "Lola" differs from the conventional structure of a film is that there are in fact three separate stories told. Each features the same general premise - outlined above - but the results of Lola's run vary incredibly. This process was the most talked-about feature of the film, and as such does not come as that much of an adjustment to the viewer in 2003.As well as the differing end results of Lola's run, the people she encounters have different stories told about them. Lola runs into (literally in some cases) many different characters, a mother pushing a pram and a man selling his bike being the two most memorable. Each of these characters reacts to Lola's presence and then a series of photos is shown explaining what happens to them afterwards - these results also change (drastically) from story to story.A third feature is the "red scenes" in between the main stories. Tykwer deliberately keeps the audience in the dark as to the meaning of these dialogues between Lola and Manni ranging over various philosophical topics - do they happen before or after the story in question? do they happen at all? regardless, they serve to increase the peculiarity of this film.And what a film it is. Potente (who also contributes vocals to the soundtrack) is a highly accomplished actor - more familiar to American audiences as Matt Damon's sidekick in "The Bourne Identity" - and is capable of almost every emotion in the book here. Lola's screaming has to be heard to be belived, especially in the opening scenes. Bleibtreu, in what is a relatively small role, proves Potente's equal and it is surely only a matter of time before he too appears in a major Hollywood film. The other actors are somewhat hampered by the pace of the film which doesn't really allow them any much character development - often, whatever development is made in one story needs to be totally discarded in the next. They do, however, acquit themselves adequately."Lola" is, after all is said and done, Tykwer's film. From the opening collection of quotes - including the enigmatic "Nach dem Spiel ist vor dem Spiel" (after the game is before the game) - and the ominously ticking clock, it is clear that he is not going to let the audience have a minute to think. Lola's running scenes are shot at strange angles, in split screen and some scenes feaure the same shot repeated three times on the screen at once. All of this is done to a pounding soundtrack of German techno, some of which is composed by Tykwer himself. Tykwer has a wicked sense of humour in places, the toughs driving the car and the sunglasses-wearing nun always provoke laughs. The dialogue between Manni and Lola about Manni's feelings for her is also very well-written, both in the German and the subtitled English.One of the most effective scenes is the opening one, a blurred shot of a crowd of people with a voiceover asking questions like "where are we coming from?" and "where are we going?", followed by a line from the man who is later revealed to be the bank security guard: "The ball is round, the game lasts 90 minutes, everything else is mere theory".In the end, what is "Lola" all about? That question is almost impossible to answer. Tykwer certainly has something to say, and the general consensus is that it deals with the random nature of modern life and also with the question of fate versus pre-determinism. One thing is for sure, this film is best viewed with friends and family as you will need someone to discuss the issues raised with. Rgeardless of the philosophical bent of the film, it is an action-packed masterpiece well worth seeing.Is this film for everyone? Probably not. The oddities in the construction will put many off, which is a shame since it is a film which will benefit from the widest possible exposure. This film thus comes heartily recommended for anyone who enjoys a challenging viewing experience and doesn't simply watch movies to be told a story.