Four Minutes (2008)

75% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
85% of users liked it
(3,607 ratings)

An embittered, 80-year-old piano teacher working in a women's prison takes on the most challenging student in her enduring career in director Chris Kraus' low-key musical drama. For years, Miss Krueger (Monica Bleibtreu) has been teaching classical piano to some of the most hardened female prisoners… More An embittered, 80-year-old piano teacher working in a women's prison takes on the most challenging student in her enduring career in director Chris Kraus' low-key musical drama. For years, Miss Krueger (Monica Bleibtreu) has been teaching classical piano to some of the most hardened female prisoners in all of Germany, but upon meeting brooding new inmate Jenny (Hannah Herzsprung), Miss Krueger finally seems to have found the one student she can't break through to -- until she hears Jenny play, that is. A former piano prodigy whose abusive childhood prompted her to neglect her natural gift for music in the name of survival, Jenny is a violent offender whose notorious temper has, as an adult, repeatedly landed her behind bars. Though she does still display considerable talent on the ivory, her decidedly antisocial behavior compelled the troubled prisoner to repeatedly sabotage opportunities to take part in recitals that would, at the very least, provide a momentary respite from her grim day-to-day existence. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Chris Kraus
Written By: Chris Kraus
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jun 9, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Oct 7, 2008
Studio: EuropaCorp. Distribution

Critic Reviews

Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
So relentlessly oppressive it suffocates its potentially strong themes and characterizations.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
It's part Jerry Lee Lewis and part Glenn Gould.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
A women-behind-bars plot seething with lesbianism, incest, hanging and catfights -- on paper, at least, Four Minutes promises more fun than a Roger Corman marathon.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Four Minutes is simply not to be missed.
Julia Wallace, Village Voice
Although the tone of the film drifts precariously toward the self-serious, writer/director Chris Kraus redeems himself with snatches of dark jailhouse humor and a quiet attentiveness to minute gradations of human feeling.
Eric Hansen, Hollywood Reporter
Unfortunately, after almost two hours the gloom becomes monotonous and the one-dimensional characters wear out their welcome.
Fr. Chris Carpenter, Orange County and Long Beach Blade
Potent tale...one of the ten best films released in 2008
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Credit goes to writer-director Chris Kraus and his remarkable leads for making any such complaints about the story's familiar nature moot.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
Underneath the harshness and the severity there is a thick, spongey layer of pure Hollywood schmaltz, and the movie runs on predictable lines.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
Bleibtreu and Herzsprung embody their characters with such vicious monstrousity that it's hard to forget that they're merely actors.
Wade Major, Boxoffice Magazine
Psychological insights and powerhouse performances combine to form a consistently engaging narrative.
Helen OHara, Empire Magazine
The acting is excellent.
Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat
... [filled] with minor mysteries and compelling characters.
Geoff Berkshire, Metromix.com
One of the most exciting German movies since Run, Lola, Run
David Noh, Film Journal International
There are the odd few tender moments, but they are only brief interludes between more sturm und drang.
Jules Brenner, Filmcritic.com
a genuine tour de force of inventive expression
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A stirringly scored, refreshingly unsentimental drama.
Melissa Anderson, Time Out New York
Pitched at deafening hysteria, Chris Kraus's film might have fared better in moderato.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Though not to be confused with Madonna's new single, Four Minutes is similarly built from cliché.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Engaging and frequently surprising German drama with a sharply written script and compelling performances from its two leads.

Read all 21 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Pedro H

The next German film sensation after The Lives of Others Touching The story of how a piano teacher has her life changed and changes the life of her student through music. An amazing story, touching, very deep, and emotional turn out great, one of the best… More
The next German film sensation after The Lives of Others Touching The story of how a piano teacher has her life changed and changes the life of her student through music. An amazing story, touching, very deep, and emotional turn out great, one of the best german movies ive seen so far. The acting is amazing, the lead actresses incorporate strong characters with strong personality that emits and touches the audience strongly. The directing is fantastic. However there are some scenes and things behind the movie that are very symbolic and therefore hard to understand, but nevertheless its a very touching movie. Jenny Von Loben : Sorry
Cynthia S

A little slow at times, but all in all a really good movie. The girl the movie is based around is really psychotic, but amazingly talented. I feel so sorry for her in the way that her life turned out. This movie had a really awesome ending. I felt like standing up and cheering for her… More
A little slow at times, but all in all a really good movie. The girl the movie is based around is really psychotic, but amazingly talented. I feel so sorry for her in the way that her life turned out. This movie had a really awesome ending. I felt like standing up and cheering for her myself
Walter M

In "Four Minutes," Traude(Monica Bleibtreu) volunteers her services as a piano teacher at the same prison where she worked as a nurse during World War II. Despite the warden's(Stefan Kurt) help, there is little promise in the inmates who show up for lessons except for… More
In "Four Minutes," Traude(Monica Bleibtreu) volunteers her services as a piano teacher at the same prison where she worked as a nurse during World War II. Despite the warden's(Stefan Kurt) help, there is little promise in the inmates who show up for lessons except for Jenny(Hannah Herzsprung), a one-time prodigy who was sexually abused by her adoptive father. However, Traude wants nothing to do with her due to her sore arms. As a result, Jenny flies into a fit of rage, knocking a guard(Sven Pippig) unconscious. Traude has second thoughts, deciding to give Jenny lessons but only if she plays by her rules. In return, Jenny gets to prove that she can play the piano with one arm tied behind her back. Wait, make that two... "Four Minutes" is an engaging drama about why it is never a good idea to force somebody to fit to your expectations, even if you think it is for their own good. The movie succeeds by restraint, instead of drowning in sentimentality, even with a contest on the horizon. Part of this comes from having two lead characters who are not in the least huggable and are both afraid of letting down barriers. With her imperious manner, Traude lives in the past, both through remembrance and the classical music she favors, using a derogatory term for the rock music Jenny likes. In return, Jenny is constantly fighting for the kind of life she wants to lead. Due to the conflict against outside forces, she has a way of lashing out which is not socially acceptable.
Daisy M

Vier Minuten was a powerful German movie, the story of two women who had nothing in common but their passion for music. The beginning was quite confusing, but provocative and after ten minutes, the story became interesting with the development of the characters, supported by… More
Vier Minuten was a powerful German movie, the story of two women who had nothing in common but their passion for music. The beginning was quite confusing, but provocative and after ten minutes, the story became interesting with the development of the characters, supported by magnificent performances and wonderful cinematography. There were some sub plots concerning their past, but it was more about these two characters coming from different generations and backgrounds,and how the both of them benefit from their experience.The movie had some excellent pieces of classical music. A must to see.
Erin C

Pretty good movie - the acting was good and the story was believable.
Ina S

Absolutely amazing, amazing, amazing German film. The performances alone are worth seeing this, Monica Bleibtreu and Hannah Herzsprung proof once more why German cinema would be nothing without the two of them. Two generations of great actresses united for a subtle, powerful and… More
Absolutely amazing, amazing, amazing German film. The performances alone are worth seeing this, Monica Bleibtreu and Hannah Herzsprung proof once more why German cinema would be nothing without the two of them. Two generations of great actresses united for a subtle, powerful and moving film.