Overview: A Queer Homage to Run Lola Run
Co-directed by Ellen Seidler and Megan Siler, And Then Came Lola is a energetic, campy lesbian romantic comedy that wears its cinematic inspirations proudly on its sleeve. Borrowing the iconic structure of Tom Tykwer's 1998 German classic Run Lola Run, the film swaps the gritty streets of Berlin for the vibrant queer scene of San Francisco, serving up a lighthearted, fast-paced exploration of second chances, creative anxiety, and romantic chaos.
The Narrative Setup
Lola (Ashleigh Sumner) is a talented but chronically disorganized photographer whose life is a series of missed opportunities and last-minute scrambles. Her relationship with Casey (Jill Bennett), a driven design executive, is on the rocks due to Lola's inability to show up on time.
When Casey gives Lola one final chance—to deliver a crucial portfolio of prints to a high-stakes business meeting—everything that can go wrong does. Lola has mere minutes to race across San Francisco, navigate quirky encounters, and avoid sabotage from Casey’s flirtatious colleague, Julia (Cathy DeBuono).
Playful Aesthetic: Seidler and Siler infuse the film with vibrant San Francisco scenery, photo-animation sequences, and an upbeat indie soundtrack that mirrors Lola’s frantic energy.
Queer Cinema Nostalgia: Featuring staples of the late-2000s lesbian indie cinema scene (including Jill Bennett and Cathy DeBuono), the movie offers an affectionate snapshot of a specific era in LGBTQ+ media.
The Verdict
While And Then Came Lola relies heavily on low-budget indie tropes and broad comedic performances, its charm lies in its unpretentious, joyful spirit. It doesn't take itself too seriously, delivering a fun, queer-centric homage to classic high-concept narrative cinema.
Final Rating: 🌟🌟🌟☆☆ (3/5) – A breezy, colorful lesbian rom-com that puts a playful San Francisco spin on the classic time-loop thriller.
Following a multi-narrative loop structure, the film resets three separate times, showing how subtle choices and random encounters lead Lola to radically different outcomes.
