While All About My Mother might be the best-reviewed foreign film of 1999, Run Lola Run seems to be the popular favorite. Lola, a lightning-paced German film about a young woman trying to find 100,000 deutsche marks ($67,000) in 20 minutes, has just been released on DVD, which should delight the film's many fans. As opposed to most foreign film DVDs (Criterion releases being the exception) which contain no bonus features, Lola features an entertaining (if unremarkable) audio commentary from director Tom Tykwer and Lola herself (Franka Potente), and a music video for the song "Believe."
Take the Money and Run
Right from the beginning, Run Lola Run has a level of energy that is intoxicating. The camera whirls around an open square, settling for moments on specific people (later revealed as characters in the film). One of these people is a uniformed man, who kicks a soccer ball into the sky. The camera pans back with the ball as the crowd disperses into the letters of the movie's German title — Lola Rennt. An animated credits sequence follows. Quite an opener!
The film's narrative begins with a frantic call from Lola's boyfriend, Manni. He has lost the 100,000 marks (obtained from diamond smuggling) on a subway tram and must recover the money in 20 minutes or he will be killed. Manni tells Lola that he will rob a nearby shop for the money if she doesn't find another way to come up with the dough within this limited time frame.
What follows are three different segments (each with a different denouement) in which Lola tries to resolve Manni's dilemma. In her travels, she comes across many of the people from the opening segment of the film, and what happens to them in each segment is sometimes just as interesting as what happens to Lola and Manni.
During the Lola running segments, the film's soundtrack thumps with techno beats that propel scenes that could otherwise be dull and repetitive. In the long run (pun intended), however, Run Lola Run ends up being as empty as the music on its soundtrack. It engages the senses while it's on, but it's forgotten as soon as the last beat plays.
A Running Commentary
The audio commentary from Tykwer and Potente is not particularly illuminating, but it's not as dull as some I've heard. Among other things, Tykwer talks interestingly about co-writing the thrumming music for Lola, Potente discusses her feelings about running (they aren't favorable), and they both convey a palpable enthusiasm for the film. The best bits on the commentary come when Tykwer subtly reveals his aptitude for filmmaking and screenwriting. In one instance, he talks about how aware he was that the third segment needed to be markedly different from the first two or he'd lose his audience, and at another point, he discusses the silent moments in the film that are necessary in order for viewers to catch their breath. These moments make the commentary worth a listen and demonstrate that Tykwer is a talent to be reckoned with.
Sound Options and Other Extras
Gearheads buying the Lola DVD for its phat beats will be pleased to find options for Dolby Digital or Surround Sound. If you Sprechen Sie Deutsch, you can watch the film without any annoying subtitles as well. There's also an entertaining music video performed by Potente for the song "Believe," and theatrical trailers for Lola and two other films.
Run, Don't Walk
So if techno music, gals with flaming red hair, and/or visually audacious, entertaining foreign films are just your cup of tea, then Run Lola Run will keep you in shape for the months ahead.
— ROD ARMSTRONG
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