Rent Lola (2022)
3.3 of 5 from 132 ratings
1h 19min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- In 1941, music-loving sisters Thomasina (Emma Appleton) and Martha Hanbury (Stefanie Martini) build a machine called LOLA which can intercept radio and TV broadcasts from the future. While the sisters initially use the machine for small ventures like becoming the first fans of the 1970s music scene, they soon realise that the machine may hold the key to defeating the Nazis. LOLA proves to be massively effective in shifting the tide of the war, but Thomasina becomes carried away with the level of power the machine holds over the war, and the sisters soon discover the world-altering consequences of their actions.
- Actors:
- Stefanie Martini, Emma Appleton, Hugh O'Conor, Rory Fleck-Byrne, Ayvianna Snow, Aaron Monaghan, Philip Condron, Shaun Boylan
- Directors:
- Andrew Legge
- Producers:
- Alan Maher, John Wallace
- Writers:
- Andrew Legge, Angeli Macfarlane
- Aka:
- L.O.L.A.
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Thrillers
- Countries:
- Ireland
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 03/07/2023
- Run Time:
- 83 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Filmmakers' Commentary with Andrew Legge and Alan Maher
More like Lola
Reviews (1) of Lola
Excellent but Flawed Speculative Nazi History Time-Slip Saga with Great Music - Lola review by PV
OK so I see the writer/director Andrew Legge made a film in 2013 about a 'mechanical maiden' - a machine invented by a widowed husband to help care for his baby daughter. That Sci-fi interest in mad inventors continues here, but with 2 female faces.
The use of old film footage here is really brilliant and so well done. It was so impressive and fascinating to watch. I am not usually a big scifi fan, but this goes beyond that.
If only the producers (and the film is part-funded by Arts Council Wales/FilmCymruWales) had cared as much about the English language!
This is set in 1938 in Britain, and the early 40s. And yet, the language used - even by British army officers - is pure American. For example, Brits say PARDON? not EXCUSE ME? or did back then (some BritKids now seem to speak Americanese). No-one back then said BRING IT ON. And Brits then and now do NOT say "Ayyy-dolf" Hitler. Brits say "Addd-olf". Sloppy and careless lack of attention to detail in the script. That really niggles. Maybe the writer/director can hire a literate script consultant next time?
Tbh the two female characters are so overblown I struggled to believe they were women from 1938. More like Girlpower ladettes straight out of 1997 London.
Anyway, I love Timeslip dramas and this follows the template of most which is that changing events in time can have disastrous consequences - always fun to watch! THE TIME MACHINE (best version of 1960) or LOOPER or even BACK TO THE FUTURE and most timeslip dramas tread the same path. As to speculative fiction with Nazis, well, where to start: FATHERLAND (1994), SS-GB TV drama, so many more.
Neil Hannon from The Divine Comedy does the new songs here, and he is always class. Well done to the film-makers for getting so many music clearances too, esp Bowie, The Kinks (and I bet the Beatles and Stones rights were way too expensive!)
I could sort-of predict a lot - but then, I have watched and read an awful lot of timeslip films and speculative fiction featuring Nazis! So most probably would not.
I won't be too harsh. This is a decent film, esp for a time-slip fan like me. 4 stars
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.