105 Must See Films: Run, Lola, Run (1998)

Starring: Franka Potente, Moritz Beleibtreu

Director: Tom Tykwer

From the opening scenes of this film, the images burst off the screen, using stylised images, mixed formats and split screens to tell the story. All eyes are on Franka Potente in this film, with her bright hair and her strong features, that make her seem both delicate and tough.

Lola gets a call: she was late picking up her boyfriend, Manni, who is a minor criminal for a local gangster and now he has lost the $100, 000 that was given to him to give to his boss. He begs Lola to think of something to avoid him getting killed, and Lola promises to get to him with the money in 20 minutes.

But can she find that kind of money in time?

The film involves a lot of Lola running across town to her fathers bank to beg for help, and running to make it in time before Manni does something desperate, hence the title.

It’s A Must See Because: I don’t want to give too much away, because I think this is one of those films where the less you know the better, but it’s an incredible piece of film making. The way that time and chance encounter is explored in this film is quite thought provoking, and I loved the way it looks and feels like a 90’s music video. It’s really fun to watch, and although perhaps the style is really of it’s time, they don’t make films like this one anymore. Sometimes I miss the 90’s.

This was also the film that launched Franka Potente onto the international circuit (the film is German) where she went onto star in The Bourne Identity and more recently you’ll spot her in The Conjuring 2.

See It If: you’re feeling some 90’s nostalgia or if you like thrillers. Exciting!