Not since "Das Boot" back in the 1980s has a German film produced so much buzz in North America. "Run Lola Run"/"Lola rennt" (1998) has received an overwhelmingly positive critical response and has even won a few awards. At one point it was among the top 20 films in the US – a very strong showing for a subtitled foreign-language film. The fiery-red-haired Lola (Franka Potente) began running across US movie screens on June 18, 1999, offering a unique opportunity for German-learners to hear authentic German and enjoy an above-average film.

The CD soundtrack album
from "Run Lola Run."
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Unfortunately, "Lola" paid only a brief visit here in my home town of Reno, Nevada – not really known as a cinematic mecca. (At least "Lola" DID put in an appearance!) But nine weeks after arriving in the New World, "Lola" was still appearing on 120 screens in LA, New York City, and other places in between. The German film – starring Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, and Herbert Knaup – grossed over $4 million during the first few months of its US release.

It may not be perfect, but I can't recommend this film highly enough! It's not a "classic film" in the "Citizen Kane" sense, but "Run Lola Run" is great entertainment and a modern classic in its own way. Set in post-Wall Berlin, "Lola rennt" is a bright, humorous, well-crafted thriller by the young German director Tom Tykwer ("Winterschläfer," "The Princess and the Warrior"). He was 34 years old when he filmed "Lola" on the streets of Berlin. (See Lola Locations.)

"Lola" has even had an impact on US television. When I watched the premiere episode of ABC's "Alias," it was "Run Lola Run" deja vu – as "Alias" star Jennifer Garner ran to pounding music – in Berlin! (I think Vancouver was standing in for the German capital.) Earlier, another TV series (the now defunct "Seven Days") ran an overtly Lolaesque episode – complete with the music, the time shifts, etc.

Also from your Guide:
About "Lola" on Video

Most critics have compared "Lola" to the British-made "Sliding Doors" because of its similar time-shifting, parallel realities, but in fact Tykwer's film has a much earlier predecessor: "Last Year at Marienbad" (1961). That French film by Alain Resnais offered a similar "alternative reality" almost four decades before "Lola," "Groundhog Day," or "Sliding Doors."

The "Groundhog Day" repetitiveness of "Lola rennt" is a fortunate quirk that lets you hear some of the dialog more than once. But there are enough subtle variations and surprises to more than maintain your interest throughout this fast-paced 81-minute film. Lola has exactly 20 minutes to save her boyfriend Manni (Bleibtreu), and the time goes by just as fast for viewers as it does for her. In part, this is due to the film's pulsating techno soundtrack (compare prices) that keeps pace with the action but is never overpowering.

"Run Lola Run" is rated R in the US, but not for any nudity or sex. The R-rating is for some violence and language, although the film is rather tame in that regard when compared to even your average Hollywood action film. Is the R-rating justified? Well, in Germany the same film was rated for 12 years and up ("freigegeben ab zwölf Jahren").

"Lola rennt" is available on video and DVD in North America and elsewhere, and you can also get the original German video version online (without English subtitles). You must have a PAL-compatible video player to view the German tape or DVD. You can also compare prices for "Lola" and other NTSC (North American) top videos and DVDs in our ranking of Top German DVDs and Videos.

Don't miss "Lola rennt"! It will leave you wishing Tykwer had made his film longer than 81 minutes.

MORE > Lola's Running on Video (with "Franka in Hollywood")

"Lola" Start Page
All of our pages and resources related to "Run Lola Run."

Run Lola Run: Soundtrack CD
Listen to and compare prices for the techno soundtrack from "Run Lola Run."

Top German Music CDs
Your Guide picks his personal choices for German music on CD.

"Lola" on Video in North America
An article by your Guide about "Run Lola Run" for German-learners – with links to DVD or VHS subtitled versions.

Top German DVDs and Videos
Your Guide picks his personal Top Ten videos for German.

German Video Sources
Links to online sources of videos in German - in both the PAL (German) and NTSC (North American) formats. From your Guide.