Run Lola Run, a German film directed by Tom Tykwer, is a thriller about a woman named Lola who tries to get enough money in twenty minutes to save her boyfriend. The film follows Lola's sequential journey by showing three different scenarios of her rescue plans. While Lola changes her paths and plans every time, the people she encounters also receive distinct consecutive consequences resulting from time or behavioral differences. Although the rescues are motivated by a strong sense of love, the film is not solely focused on the love bond between Lola and Manni. The life-changing twists and turns of those who meet and pass by Lola in the film show the interrelationship and importance of time, decision, and destiny. In this article I will discuss how the film deals with realism in a non-realistic setting. Having the restart button is never a concrete case, but the lessons on making decisions, learning from mistakes, living with surprises and racing against time are authentic. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Life has many pivotal moments. Once a decision is made, it will lead to a different life path. Tom Tykwer addresses the meaning of decision making in the film. Within a limited time frame, he chooses to use different photomontages to portray different destinies. For example, the old lady with a stroller who has her baby taken away decides to steal another person's baby in the first scenario. The photo montages show her love for the baby, her frustration after the baby was taken away from her, and her disgusted excitement at seeing another baby. In the second scenario, the montages still indicate moments with strong emotions such as showing the lottery ticket, overloaded happiness after winning the lottery and clams, and satisfaction after possessing the sudden wealth. The same editing technique also applies to the biker and the lady in the corridor, showing their stories of love or suicide in different scenarios. Whatever their fate, the photo montages capture key moments, moments with strong emotions that reflect how they perceive their decisions. Happy or sad or hopeful or disappointed, moments are the turning points of life just like the old lady decides to be in an unhealthy relationship or decides to buy a lottery. She lives with the same man and boy in two scenarios, but her decisions make a huge difference. The technique gets straight to the point where, with fleeting speed, it conveys that sometimes it's just a matter of a fleeting moment that will ultimately determine a life path. The three-scenario setting already exceeds the conventional expectations of a film, but the unexpected factors that happen from time to time make the film even more complex and interesting. For example, the first time Lola meets the ferocious dog, she gets scared. When she is well prepared for the second time, the dog's owner unexpectedly trips Lola and makes her fall from downstairs. Likewise, after Lola fails to get money from her father, she robs the bank instead. When he finally meets Manni with the money, the scene almost makes viewers believe it's the end. But an ambulance hits Manni and brings everything to the third sequence. Even though Lola has previous experience and memory, she is still unable to avoid unexpected events and people. Indeed, life is unpredictable and full of surprises. People seem to feel confident in their actions based on their experiences, as if Lola knows the dog will be there and viewers know Lola is prepared. However, the.
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