This
Girl Is On Fire!
Run
Lola Run is a German language film made in 1998. The movie is fascinating and
unique with its’ one of a kind storyline. It is divided into 3 running
sequences of Lola that it loops and repeats itself with different ending. All 3
runs are well connected with each other thru this fast pace action film. The
theme of film is about human against destiny of death. Lola changes the fate of
Manni and her by refuse to accept the death.
The
film started with Lola answered a phone call from her boyfriend, Manni. He
cried in a phone booth. Lola calmed him down and Manni told how he lost all the
money in the subway as he encountered with police officer. Manni planned to rob
the grocery shop nearby right after 12pm if Lola didn’t came to save him with
money. She ran all the way to her father and he threw her out of his office.
Manni robbed the grocery shop with Lola. They were surrounded by police
officers and one of them shot Lola on her chest. Second run began after
flashback of the intimate conversation. She ran to her father and had a fight
with him. She took the security guard’s gun to kidnap her father for ransom.
Lola managed to stop Manni to rob the bank but he was hit by an ambulance.
Third run began also after the flashback. Lola runs to her father but he left
the office with a friend. Manni took his money back from the old man. Lola won
money in casino to save her boyfriend. In the end, Manni and Lola held hands on
the street.
Color
is an important feature in the costume and makeup, also in lighting department.
Lola’s hair dyed in red and the intimate sex scene in dark red lens and
lighting effect are proof of it. Red represents fire, passion and warrior
spirit. When Lola is running, her hair is flowing and it standouts in the
movie. The red hair set up resembles to the futuristic movie The Fifth Element,
Leeloo. Both characters are heroines in the movie with strong woman and fierce
characteristics. While the intimate sex scene with Lola and Manni lay on bed
together in red lighting enhances the atmosphere of lust and intimacy. The
close body contact sends out the message of the bond of love and trust in close
camera shot. It justified the reason and feeling of Lola’s willingness to save
her boyfriend. The usage of black-and-white in subway scene also highlighted
the important of color technique. This method is used to create clear line
between past and present as the past represents the subway scene with
black-and-white, while the present represents the phone conversation with color
screen.
Film
editors use a wide range of film editing techniques to create this masterpiece.
Cross cutting, a method of combine 2 actions happen in the same time with
different location, but scenes join after they are in the same location. Scenes
included Lola’s first and second runs to stop Manni’s robbery plan and Lola’s
third run to meet with her father. It tells Lola’s desperate feeling as she
wonders how her father and Manni is doing while she runs. Scene like this
increase the intensity level as it teases the audiences’ mind to engage and
predict what the outcome is followed up. It creates shorter duration for
narration by combine two scenes for this fast pace movie.
Fast
cutting, technique of compiles several consecutive shots during brief duration.
When Lola bumps into minor characters like the old lady with baby, bicycle
rider and office lady, scene change to a series of sequential multiple shots of
these character’s future. The purpose of it is to tell a story of these minor
characters in a short amount of time while the heroin Lola is on the run. Each
run of Lola gives different future outcome for these characters as it is a
metaphor of Lola’s capability to change the past and future, hence the theme of
movie is human against destiny.
Match
cut is a cut editing between 2 different objects, space and composition where 2
shots graphically match to form a strong continuity. When Lola runs, scene cut
into other characters like car driver, bicycle rider and old lady with baby,
then scene change back to Lola continue to run. It forms a link for Lola and
her surrounding as her influences toward them give clearer position and
timeline. Lola runs thru all difficulty on the streets to save her boyfriend.
Montage,
technique of select and pierce together separate sections of film to form a
continuous scene. The shots of falling red colored bag with money and falling
phone handset overlapped with each other creates a montage for transition from
the first run to second run. It indicates time has been reverse and Lola’s
determination to save her boyfriend with another attempt.
Jump
cut, 2 sequential shots of the same subject is filmed from slightly different
camera position. Lola starts run in front profile, then scene changes into side
view, another changes with different background while she runs. It creates the
realism of action with time pass as her action takes place. It also speeds up
the flow of normal action to create scene that suit with this rapid fire action
movie.
360
degree camera shot is used in scenes like Lola’s decision of who she ask for
help, female house owner talks with a phone and the animation of Lola runs thru
spiral staircase. This type of shot creates emotion of uncertain and eager to
anticipate as camera moves in circle. The circulate movement creates a form of
spiral line to symbolize the tunnel of time travel; a good example would be
Lola runs down the spiral staircase.
For
sound effect, Run Lola Run infuses with techno music to enhance this rapid fire
action film. Scene with techno music is generally associated with Lola runs on
the street as the music lyrics echo back and said:” I want to go, I want to
fight, I want to rush…” It conveys the feeling of Lola when she runs in action.
The beats are disco-like to bring more dynamic to her action as well. Also, her
3 screaming scenes are telling a lot of her personality. The first scream
happens during conversation with Manni in phone, second scream happens in her
father office and third scream happens in a casino. Her scream effect on
breaking the glasses is the visualization of her frustration and anger in exaggerate
form. It is her shout out to release her stress of running out of time with
only 20 minutes to save Manni. This shows how much she cares for her love one
as her emotion turns unstable and unstoppable.
The
scenic environment in Berlin is breathtaking with beautiful architecture
structures and street views. The plot is inception alike with loop of running
scenes, but it doesn’t confuse audiences of the storyline. Readers who love
Europe’s culture are recommended to watch this award winning action film.
References
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