Quinn Harris

Professor DAmelio
December 10, 2014
Final Response
Fate in Run Lola Run
Run Lola Run is a 1998 thriller directed by Tom Tykwer. The film follows a
young german woman as she has twenty minutes to find 10,000 Deutschmarks to save
her boyfriend.
One of the primary themes of the film is the notion of chance. Several times
throughout the film we see the various consequences of characters lives play out, each
one caused by a slight change in their lives, emphasizing the importance of each choice a
person makes. Immediately we are faced with this notion of choice; Lolas actions have
great effects on the characters she interacts with, but it seems they have no personal
choice in how their live will end up. This connects with Aquinas in his hypothetical reply
to his fourth objection when he writes, Man's way is said not to be his in the
execution of his choice, wherein he may be impeded, whether he will or not. The choice
itself, however, is in us, but presupposes the help of God.
The film even opens with a quote that touches on similar determinististic
themes. Stylistically, this is mirrored in the shot of Lolas television during her first run
when the director cuts to a shot of dominos knocking each other over which hints at
Lolas being greatly effected by a chain of events. Again, this ties in with Aristotle as we
are left wondering whether these effects are fate or chance? He might remark that man
acts from judgment, and that the proper acts of free will is choice. Both of these tie in
with a quote between Manni and Lola, when she asks: And you do whatever your heart
says? Well, it really doesn't "say" anything. I don't know. It just feels. The director

seems to be implying Manni believes it is fate that they are together wile Lola believes it
to be chance.