RUN LOLA RUN
A dazzling German thriller whose content belongs at home, for adults only.
Should You Watch It?
Run Lola Run is an intriguing, energetic thriller built around Lola's desperate attempt to get 100,000 marks to her boyfriend in 20 minutes. Its quick edits, fast motion, pumped-up music, cartoons, and carefully designed variations give the film a dazzling frenzy. The movie also includes positive moral elements, a seemingly answered prayer, and a moment of compassion toward a dying man.
But the story asks you to sympathize with a gangster and his girlfriend, and Lola's devotion is difficult to embrace because of Manni's character. Strong foul language, criminal behavior, gambling, implied fornication, and the film's manipulation of time and space further complicate its moral picture.
The movie has ideas about seeking help from God and helping others, but it leaves those ideas ambiguous rather than developing them fully. Watch it at home, if at all, and only as an adults-only choice.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESLola has 20 minutes to find 100,000 marks for her punkish boyfriend, Manni. He needs the money for his gangster boss, and failure could cost him his life.
What follows is a frantic race through the city, as Lola tries different ways to change the outcome. The thriller revisits her desperate run three times, with important variations each time.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means an inventive and intriguing film whose strengths do not overcome its weaknesses. Tom Tykwer's filmmaking is technically elaborate, with quick edits, fast motion, pumped-up music, cartoons, and carefully maintained outdoor lighting across the three variations.
Franka Potente gives a strong performance as Lola, and Moritz Bleibtreu plays Manni with a pouty quality. The repeated sequences form an ironic, developing counterpoint to one another.
The central problem is Manni's character. It is difficult to sympathize completely with Lola's extreme efforts for him, even though her love is clear. The movie's moral and spiritual ideas are also too subtle and ambiguous, leaving the audience to make much of their meaning alone.
The Worldview
The film has a mild pagan worldview centered on personal gratification and the manipulation of time and space. Its three repeated attempts suggest that reality can be altered through determined human action. That imaginative structure is paired with positive moral elements, including a prayer that appears to be answered and Lola's effort to help stabilize a dying man's heartbeat.
The movie may be reaching toward the idea that life's meaning and humanity's future involve seeking help from God and reaching out to other people. A minor character is briefly shown converting to Jesus Christ and taking Communion, and Roman Catholic nuns appear. Yet the prayer's answer involves winning at gambling, which gives the spiritual dimension a morally off-kilter quality.
The film also revolves around a gangster, criminal activity, an adulterous affair, stealing, kidnapping, and an unmarried couple. Its moral ideas are therefore present but underdeveloped and surrounded by serious immorality.
The longing for help and meaning points beyond the film's ambiguous spirituality. Scripture says, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Mild pagan worldview of personal gratification & manipulating time & space with some positive moral elements, a prayer to God that is answered positively, Roman Catholic nuns shown walking, & a minor character is briefly shown converting to Jesus Christ & taking Communion; 25 obscenities & no profanities; moderate violence including woman accidentally shot in chest (only a little blood shown), man accidentally hit by ambulance (only a little blood shown), ambulance crashes into plate glass once & barely misses it twice, several gunshots fired into walls & one accidentally into floor near man's head, man robs grocery with gun, & woman robs bank with gun, holding one man hostage; implied fornication & two scenes of unmarried couple talking in bed under covers; no nudity; no alcohol use; smoking; and moderate level of miscellaneous immorality, such as couple talks about their adulterous affair, stealing, criminal activity (probably drug sale, though it's unclear), kidnapping, & gambling.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Lola's love for Manni drives her to make extraordinary sacrifices. How should love be shaped by wisdom and moral responsibility?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Philippians 1:9–10The film presents a prayer that appears to receive a positive answer, but the answer involves gambling. How can we distinguish trust in God from trying to control outcomes?
Matthew 6:9–13 · James 4:13–16Lola helps a dying man after receiving what seems to be a miracle. Why should compassion remain part of our response to God's kindness?
Luke 10:30–37 · 1 John 3:16–18The film repeatedly changes the outcome of events. What does Scripture teach about human plans, God's sovereignty, and our responsibility for our choices?
Proverbs 16:9 · Galatians 6:7The Final Word
Run Lola Run is inventive, energetic, and morally curious, but its criminal world, strong language, sexual immorality, and ambiguous spirituality make it a poor family choice. If you watch it, do so at home and as an adults-only viewing. The final answer is WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. For other options, see.
