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The footage I captured had themes of my cats, working and doing activities for school/work, connecting with others, and traveling. I did not go into this assignment with a plan, but I tried to get a wide variety of shots, while still maintaining some shot continuity to connect ideas. For example, most shots of me walking are of my feet, and this clues the viewer that I am transitioning from one location to another. I also used a blue and desaturated color grade, as I asked some close friends what color I was and that (relatively) was the color they gave.

Run Lola Run has an amalgam of eccentric, varying stylistic choices that create a chaotic yet captivating atmosphere, manipulating time and space in ways that are both disorienting and intriguing. Despite the seeming chaos, the film’s structure makes the narrative is easy to follow. The storyline is divided into 20-minute segments, each retaining central elements that anchor the audience’s understanding while altering specific details to keep them engaged and anticipating changes to the story. This repetition is a crucial part of building the narrative momentum, as it makes it easy to follow, while utilizing subtle differences and potential outcomes of each scenario. Continuity also helps the viewers comprehend the overarching narrative, in spite of the frequent shifts and chaotic energy. The recurring scenes of Lola running act as a visual thread that ties the segments together, providing a consistent rhythm. The repetition allows the film to explore various styles without losing coherence, enhancing the storytelling experience. The editing contributes to the film’s dynamic energy. Rapid, frequent cuts push the feeling of urgency of Lola’s quest, aligning the pacing of the visuals with the frantic tone. The editing helps to heighten the tension and immerse the audience in Lola’s high-stakes race against time. 

I am not able to get screencaps of the film right now, but will once I get access of the film.

In the film ‘Run, Lola, Run’, the director manipulates time through multiple techniques such as repetition with variations, shot length, and specific focus on moments in time. The use of these techniques allows time to be stretched, compressed, or entirely repeated without losing the viewer’s perception of the current timeline.

To create a cohesive timeline over the three sequences, the director utilizes repetition with slight variation to allow the viewers to truly understand that each sequence is the same period of time, changed through the actions of the protagonists. The repetition begins with very little variation, re-situating the viewer into the sequence with each new beginning.

Another technique the director uses to manipulate time is a variety in shot length to lessen or create tension and speed. When the action of the movie is high, the shots are quick, condensed, and dynamic, with the camera often following Lola personally as she runs. In the lulling moments of the movie, shots are longer and more still, with less movement and more dialogue. This effect keeps the viewer engaged without tiring them out, and allows heavy moments, such as their deaths, to sink in more effectively due to a less ‘alive’ motion of camera.

Finally, by choosing to focus almost entirely on the present moment as the action occurs, it eases confusion viewers may have about where they are in the timeline. The moments that aren’t in the present are shown in quick, flashing succession, allowing random characters to have full and fulfilled storylines in each timeline in a matter of seconds. Not only does this maintain the overall pace of the movie, it avoids distracting the viewer from Lola’s story and overall goal, which is the pushing point behind all action in the movie.