Blog Prompt:
Although Run Lola Run has a discontinuous style – made of many types of cinematic images, including color, black and white, animation, video and still shots – it is held together as a whole by following rules of continuity to keep the viewer oriented in the fragmented spaces and times.
How does the movie retain narrative momentum despite all the time shifts? What narrative forces/desires drives the edits of shot to shot? In what ways is time “stretched” or “compressed” and how is the effect achieved? These questions are only “prompts” for your own thoughts about the narrative, cinematography and editing styles of the Run Lola Run. Take screen grabs to support your thoughts.
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Throughout this narrative, the momentum is sustained through the repetition of scenes with, time pressure, music, and dynamic cinematography. The film’s discontinuous style primarily focuses on three different scenarios with slight variations, creating a structure that propels the story forward. Lola’s race against time to save her boyfriend serves as the central force, influencing the director’s choices of quick cuts, specific camera movements, and unconventional shots. The music further amplifies the urgency of her mission to rescue her boyfriend. Additionally, the film employs time loops, montage, and split screens, contributing to its non-linear structure.
