` run lola run ' , a german import that gained a stellar reputation at the sundance film festival , is a dazzling and kinetic film that deals with the subjects of fate and chance .
for a berserk and retroactive 81 minutes of non - stop movement , we follow a fiery - haired heroine named lola ( franka potente ) as she sprints to save her boyfriend from the clutches of drug dealers .
lola has roughly twenty minutes to somehow retrieve 100 , 000 marks in time to save manni ( moritz bleibtreu ) from being killed by the dealer .
but , in something of a pseudo- ` groundhog day ' approach , director tom tykwer gives lola three separate chances to best navigate her way toward the goal .
in these trio of episodes , we gradually learn the unique effects of fate , for even if tiny changes are made in lola 's journey , the future can be seriously altered .
` run lola run ' is an experience like ` fight club ' or ` the matrix ' , in that each film takes you through a super - charged wormhole of bending reality in surreal and exciting ways .
in addition , all three movies have a visual style that separates them from the rest of the pack .
` lola ' is no exception , with stylish quick - flash camera work and cinematography that serves as scintillating eye candy from the get - go .
tykwer 's world is a landscape of mood and color , with brilliant shades of red and pink ( including lola 's fiery hair ) used as effective symbolism throughout .
with it 's visual style and mind - blowing pace , ` run lola run '
is one of the more invigorating movies of the year .
even more so when considering the fact it 's all stuffed rather nonchalantly into an 81-minute time period .
as a heroine , potente does little more than run wildly through the streets ( as the title suggests ) , but
she has a certain flair and charisma .
her exemplary running form made me wonder if she is actually a track star .
meanwhile , bleibtreu does an equally fantastic job of bringing the dopey but passionate manni to life .
both actors perform beyond the call of duty .
the dazzling fun comes from predicting what each episode holds in store for lola , and the outcome is ultimately rewarding - several twists and turns are unique and unexpected .
the other characters lola runs into ( both purposely and inadvertently ) include her banker father ( herbert kraup ) and a friendly security guard ( armin rohde ) , but aside from the two leads , no one has more than a few minutes of screen time .
additional stars that could n't possibly be ignored are cinematographer frank griebe and editor mathilde bonnefroy , who are both responsible for the film 's eye - catching visual elegance .
` run lola run ' is subtitled , so be prepared to meet the challenge of reading the lightning - fast dialogue - occasional sections of it are especially fast .
this is only one of the minor chores involved in watching .
the other is the sense that we never get to really recognize who the real people are in this hyperactive situation .
most are just chess pieces in tykwer 's elaborate game of visual presentation , and he never really makes a significant move with any .
but , the average viewer is likely to be
so absorbed in the action that few will realize the lack of potency in a few elements of the screenplay .
a few petty gripes aside , this film is a wild , exhilarating ride that turns maniacally on its wheel of originality .
most people believe foreign films are mainly boring , talky character studies .
perhaps ` run lola run ' will recharge their batteries .
not only does this film offer insight into some intriguing questions of fate and destiny , it also delivers a white - knuckle visual rollercoaster ride of overwhelming audacity .
like how the experience must have been for the persistent title character , ` run lola run ' is exhausting .
Output: P