‘Run Lola Run’

Task B: Narrative Structure

This is a flashback from the narrative

• The narrative starts off linear, but uses non-linear techniques like flashbacks and flash-forwards. The flashbacks are shown to be flashbacks as they are in black and white, with the flash-forwards being conveyed through snapshots which connote snapshots into the character’s future. However, these elements do not add to the narrative of the film, they just give insight into some unimportant characters, not affecting the narrative so it does have a linear narrative for the first twenty minutes.

• The flashbacks have an impact on the audience. The impact the flashbacks have on the audience is that it tells them the backstory to the film (why the protagonists are in the dilemma they started with) and this keeps them up to speed and makes the narrative less confusing for them. It also gives them some of the backstory to one of the protagonists- Mani- and what he does for a living therefore the flashbacks introduce them to the character.

• The flash-forwards also have an effect on the audience. The effect here is that it tells the audience about the future of un-important characters that aren’t even named. This makes these un-important characters have more verisimilitude, or at least the illusion of verisimilitude, about them. This makes the diegesis of the diegtic world seem more 3-D to the audience.

Dream Sequence.

• After the first twenty minutes, the film jump cuts out of the narrative and into something completely different- the dream sequence. This does add to the narrative because it shows the audience more about the relationship between the two characters, and this therefore means the film does not have a linear structure, it has a non-linear structure, with some linear techniques.

• After the dream, the twenty minutes restarts and goes through again but with a different series of events and a different outcome. The narrative is linear in these twenty minutes, but because it jump-cutted back to a starting point in the film (the red phone) the films narrative as a whole is non-linear.

• The dream sequences also have an effect on the audience. The effect this has on the audience is that it makes them question the characters and their love for each other, as well as making their relationship seem deeper. It makes the audience question whether the love there is really real or whether their a couple with an expiration date. It also bridges the gap between the twenty minutes making the plot easier to follow, and this editing trick removes some of the confusion there would have been if the film just jumped back the twenty minutes.

Telephone prop that helps bridge the jump cuts.

• The use of the telephone to bridge the jump cuts gives starting points to each of the three twenty minutes. It gives a constant for the audience helping them to understand that the twenty minutes has started again. It’s always with the phone slamming down which suggests that the phone represents the start of time for the characters and this is shown through the time starting exactly as the phone slams down.

Todorov Narrative Theory

• Todorov’s narrative theory is suggested in five stages. Equilibrium, disruption of equilibrium, recognition of disruption, attempts at repairing the equilibrium and a new equilibrium.

• The film does follow the Todorov Narrative theory, but doesn’t follow it tightly.

• The state of equilibrium at the beginning is shown through the flash back of Mani (one of the protagonists) doing his job. This is soon disrupted by him leaving the money on the train, and he recognises this so he calls his girlfriend Lola for help (the other protagonist).

• It is Lola who tries to repair the equilibrium by going to different locations to try and get the money to save Mani, and in the end she does which restores the equilibrium as the disruption has been stopped.

• However, the plot to this film is non-linear and does not follow it exactly, because there are three new equilibriums (Lola dies, Mani dies, happily ever after) after there have been three attempts at the repair stage so it does not follow it exactly. However this is effective because it helps emphasise the importance of time as a theme throughout the film and therefore helps signify how important the twenty minutes is to the two characters. The effect this has on the audience is that it shows them that they may not always win and get what they want and that things could go wrong.