ptgriff Blog

A.K.A. Lola Rennt

Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]

Under discussion:

Run Lola Run (1999)

After seeing some clips of this film in some of my film classes, I decided I wanted to rent it and see what it was all about. Not really knowing what to expect, I must say when the film was over I was impressed.

There are so many aspects of this film that I like. Where do I begin? Well for one, I love the whole look of the film. Set in Germany, the film has a very retro look to it. The main character, Lola (Franka Potente), has bleached red hair and is running around in a tank top and what looks to be plaid pants and boots. Her boyfriend, Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu) is dressed in a tan colored shirt, jeans and a black vest. For most of the film he is at an intersection where there is a coffee shop or a bar behind him, which is painted in a unique palette of colors and designs. The music lends itself well to the retro feel. The score is that of a fast paced techno/rave kind of music. This music enhances the effect of the film because of its fast paced beat. Since Lola is in a race against time, running across town to reach her boyfriend, the fast paced beat gives a sense of urgency to the situation.

I was impressed with the use of animation in the film. When Lola initially leaves her home she has to run down a flight of steps to get out of the building. Rather than film her running down the flights of steps, the director, Tom Tykwer, chose to show the scene as a cartoon with an animated Lola running down animated steps. The scene works its way into the film by being shown on television as the camera moves off a shot of Lola’s mother to dolly in on the TV.

As Lola runs to meet her boyfriend, she inevitably bumps into a few people along the way. Each person she bumps into has his or her life shown in a series of Polaroid’s appearing in front of the camera in succession. Each time Lola encounters these people on her three separate attempts to meet her boyfriend, the events depicted within the Polaroid’s change for the better. This was such a quick and clever way to add in mini subplots to help strengthen the story as well as show the audience that throughout the course of Lola’s journey to find the right way to save her boyfriend, she is undoubtedly getting closer to a working solution as shown by the increased positive nature of the lives lived by the people in the Polaroid’s.

I found it interesting how Tykwer linked each of Lola’s trips to catch her boyfriend. Inevitably at the end of the first two trips, Lola fails and either her or her boyfriend end up being killed. As they lie there dieing they think back to previous events where they were both together discussing something important. After the flashback ends, the character is seen laying there dieing and then there is a cut to the beginning of the film again where Lola is leaving her house to meet her boyfriend. This flashback sequence combined with the cut to the beginning shows that these characters can alter their own destiny. They can get as many chances as they want to make things work because they are the masters of their lives. I think that is the message this film is trying to convey. First of all I think it is trying to say anything is possible, if you just put your mind to it. Lola succeeding in getting the money legally and saving her boyfriend shows this. The film is also trying to say that one, we are in control of our destiny’s and two, events in our life occur due to a complex set of actions that must happen in order for things to go smoothly. If just one thing is changed, events could totally change thus affecting your life in ways you never foresaw. In short, Tykwer is exploring the butterfly effect.

Overall, I’d have to say this film is easily one of the best film’s I have ever seen. Its story and messages combined with its cinematography and musical score makes for one exciting 80-minute ride.

Posted Tuesday, July 24, 2007 3:41 PM by ptgriff | with 0 comments

Tykwer's Touching Tale

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. [What do you think?]

Under discussion:

Run Lola Run (1999)

The Princess and the Warrior (2001)

After seeing Run Lola Run I was more than anxious to see Tom Tykwer’s other films. Next in line for me was The Princess and the Warrior. My friend had just gotten through seeing it and told me how great it was so this only added to my anticipation.

The thing I like the most about this film was the plot. It revolves around two people, one a thief, Bodo (Benno Furmann), and the other a nurse, Sissi (Franka Potente), who works at a mental institution. After stealing some groceries, Bodo is being chased through the streets of a German town. During the chase he hops on the back a truck distracting the driver who in turn hits Sissi as she is crossing the street. Though she is alive, she is severly injured and trapped under the truck. Bodo, looking for a place to hide from the guards, climbs under the truck and sees her struggling to breathe. Realizing he is at fault for her current situation, he gives her some makeshift medical attention and saves her life. He sees her safely to the hospital and then disappears. After recovering Sissi starts looking for him. Her search for him dominates the rest of the film.

The plot of this film just seems so simple to me and that’s why I like it so much. It’s just a simple story of a woman looking for the man who saved her life. However, once she finds him the film gets even better. They help each other unravel some mysteries that have haunted them for much of their lives.

Another aspect of the film I like is the choice in locations. The town they chose to shoot in is so cool. It’s clean yet rugged. The architecture of the buildings is very interesting and unique. One scene of the film is shot on the roof of a bank and I’d have to say, it is the strangest looking bank I have ever seen. The asylum that Sissi works in is pretty cool as well. The staff that runs the asylum lives there so each employee has his or her own quarters set apart from the patients. The grounds surrounding the asylum are filled with bushes, trees and even a moat. It is like an old medieval castle.

I feel the characters in this film are interesting and complex. Bodo is torn by the memory of his dead wife. He dreams about her every night and wakes up hugging the heater/stove of the house he lives in. From his dreams, it’s obvious that the death of his wife had a profound effect on him. He spends much of the film in a depressed state, snapping at those close to him. Throughout the film he is struggling to get past her death. Sissi on the other hand, is very lonely. Since the untimely death of her mother she has been alone. She works at the asylum because it where she was born. Her mother was a nurse there and her father is a patient whom she is forced to engage in sexual activities with. Being bored, lonely and having a crazy father makes for an interesting character if you ask me.

I don’t normally like romantic films, but this film is an exception. Essentially it’s a love story but the depth of the characters and their troubled pasts makes for an interesting story. Combined with interesting locations and some great performances, this film makes for an entertaining and enjoyable experience.

Posted Tuesday, July 24, 2007 3:30 PM by ptgriff | with 0 comments