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.

amitksing This is such an utter waste of time! Just like Lola, this film is also running around in all directions. The scenes are repeated, and instead of giving a hint to viewers about re-occurrence of same event, the director plays same frames all over again and again.

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.

avik-basu1889 The synopsis for 'Run Lola Run' is as follows: After a botched money delivery, Lola has 20 minutes to come up with 100,000 Deutschmarks to save her boyfriend Manni from the wrath of his boss. Now on first glance that looks very thin and it also looks like the plot for a very generic and bland action film. But that's where the viewer can get misled. This film is all about the themes that the director/writer is trying to explore and I find it to be immensely captivating.'Fate', 'Alternate Realities', 'Butterfly effects' etc. are primarily the themes that are dealt with here. These aforementioned themes can sound pretty daunting and heavy, but it is due to the director and writer Tom Tykwer's brilliance that even though the themes are larger-than-life, the film itself is packaged and crafted in the most exciting and enjoyable manner possible. Most parts of the film take place in real time which heighten the tension in the air. It kept reminding me of that brilliant montage in David Fincher's 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' which beautifully underlined the concept of the Butterfly Effect which basically deals with the fact that little, subtle and seemingly minor day-to-day events can have a huge bearing on and can alter the fate and destiny of a person's life. Well 'Run Lola Run' is pretty much the film version of that scene revolving around this concept. A connection can also be made with 'No Country for Old Men'. The basic philosophy that drove Anton Chigurh in his gruesome deeds was his belief that everything depended on chance. Free Will and an almighty superpower do not exist. 'Run Lola Run' also explores that very concept of chance and its effect on life and fate through the Butterfly Effect. Similar to 'No Country for Old Men', this film too in a way towards the end hints towards the idea that maybe human decisions borne out of our own will can have some bearing on the outcome of our life and our destiny, and maybe, just maybe there is someone up there who has a hand in shaping our lives by judging the choices that we make. But that's just my interpretation and this film is open to multiple interpretations.Tom Tykwer's vision and his direction has to be admired here. He showed a lot of boldness to make such an experimental film and still make it a film that has an effect in the minds of the viewer. This film is philosophical, but it is also impeccably stylish. The screenplay is influenced by Groundhog Day. The whole film looks like a prolonged 90s music video. The soundtrack comprises primarily of techno pop and percussion based scores and it completely complements the visual style of the film. The cinematography is also admirable. The film is very colourful in nature with colours being used to convey certain themes. Tom Twyker skilfully maintains the speed and the tension of the film throughout the runtime. Another important thing that helps the film is that it is only 81 minutes long. The short length helps it because the novelty of the experimentation and Tykwer's visual style does not wear off.'Run Lola Run' is not only snazzy and exciting, but it is also philosophical and will encourage debates and analytical conversations. I think it is extensively re-watchable too. Highly recommended.