Run Lola Run, Run Lola Run, Run Lola Run.
It is rare to find a film so driven by its own vehicle; a film in which every piece of music, cinematography, and effect is used to further the story line. Run Lola Run is such a film. The viewer is physically beaten by the driving techno beat, rushing along with the film's lead, Lola (Franka Potente), as she struggles to save her boyfriend Manni's (Moritz Bleibtreu) life; we are thrown off pace by the use of still shots, red-tinted screens, and random pieces of animation. From the frantic, pulsing introduction, to the final credits rolling down the screen, the medium is the driving force behind this MTV generation film. .
The plot unfolds as Manni misplaces a small fortune belonging to his boss, and calls upon Lola to find a way to replace the missing cash before noon, or else Manni's life will be cut short. The characters relive the crucial 20 minutes three different times, with each vignette drastically transformed by a slight alteration at the beginning of Lola's race. Racing against time is something that everyone can relate to. The lack of time is often the main problem in movies, as well as in life. Run Lola Run approaches this problem differently than in most film; by examining the characters different approaches in each scene and how this effects their outcome. .
Director Tom Tykwer leaves his audience with the question: What really happened? Do we know which of the three endings is the ending? Perhaps we assume it is the final scene, but only because it is the last option with which we are provided. Why could it not be the first scene, resulting in Lola's death, and therefore making the next two vignettes impossible? The audience shares this sense of uncertainty and doubt with the characters; the phrase "I don't know" is used countless times by the characters, in all different situations. This is a film about questions, of never knowing the right question to ask and therefore never receiving the right answer.