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IMDbPro

Four Minutes

Original title: Vier Minuten
  • 20062006
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
Monica Bleibtreu and Hannah Herzsprung in Four Minutes (2006)
This is the trailer for Four Minutes, directed by Chris Kraus.
Play trailer1:58
1 Video
9 Photos
  • Drama
  • Music
An elderly piano teacher trains a young convict at a women's penitentiary.An elderly piano teacher trains a young convict at a women's penitentiary.An elderly piano teacher trains a young convict at a women's penitentiary.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Chris Kraus
  • Writer
    • Chris Kraus
  • Stars
    • Hannah Herzsprung
    • Monica Bleibtreu
    • Vadim Glowna
Top credits
  • Director
    • Chris Kraus
  • Writer
    • Chris Kraus
  • Stars
    • Hannah Herzsprung
    • Monica Bleibtreu
    • Vadim Glowna
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 39User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 40 wins & 11 nominations

    Videos1

    Four Minutes: Trailer
    Trailer 1:58
    Four Minutes: Trailer

    Photos9

    Monica Bleibtreu and Hannah Herzsprung in Four Minutes (2006)
    Monica Bleibtreu and Hannah Herzsprung in Four Minutes (2006)
    Four Minutes (2006)
    Four Minutes (2006)
    Hannah Herzsprung in Four Minutes (2006)
    Hannah Herzsprung in Four Minutes (2006)
    Hannah Herzsprung in Four Minutes (2006)
    Hannah Herzsprung in Four Minutes (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hannah Herzsprung
    Hannah Herzsprung
    • Jenny von Loebenas Jenny von Loeben
    Monica Bleibtreu
    • Gertrud 'Traude' Krügeras Gertrud 'Traude' Krüger
    Vadim Glowna
    Vadim Glowna
    • Gerhard von Loebenas Gerhard von Loeben
    Sven Pippig
    • Mützeas Mütze
    Richy Müller
    Richy Müller
    • Kowalskias Kowalski
    Jasmin Tabatabai
    Jasmin Tabatabai
    • Ayseas Ayse
    Stefan Kurt
    Stefan Kurt
    • Direktor Meyerbeeras Direktor Meyerbeer
    Nadja Uhl
    Nadja Uhl
    • Nadine Hoffmannas Nadine Hoffmann
    Peter Davor
    • Journalist Wahrigas Journalist Wahrig
    Edita Malovcic
    Edita Malovcic
    • Traude - jungas Traude - jung
    Christian Koerner
    Christian Koerner
    • SS-Sturmbannführeras SS-Sturmbannführer
    Kathrin Kestler
    • Hannahas Hannah
    Amber Bongard
    • Clara Mützeas Clara Mütze
    Dietrich Hollinderbäumer
    Dietrich Hollinderbäumer
    • Pater Vincensas Pater Vincens
    Dieter Moor
    Dieter Moor
    • TV-Moderatoras TV-Moderator
    Maria Hartmann
    Maria Hartmann
    • TV-Kandidatinas TV-Kandidatin
    Isolde Fischer
    • Platzanweiserinas Platzanweiserin
    Irene Rindje
    • Organisatorinas Organisatorin
    • Director
      • Chris Kraus
    • Writer
      • Chris Kraus
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film, being German, inherits the - "duzen" and "Siezen" - of the German language and social custom. Translating it into English is problematic.
    • Goofs
      In several sequences where we see Jenny playing the piano, the notes we hear do not correspond to the keys she plays.
    • Quotes

      Gerhard von Loeben: I hope you win, Jenny.

      Jenny von Loeben: I hope you die, Daddy.

    • Connections
      References The Blues Brothers (1980)

    User reviews39

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Turbulent, engrossing, incredible film
    The women's prison in Germany in which this film is set is a place of bullying and beatings, of despair and suicide, of boredom, football and ping-pong. In these grim surroundings an elderly visiting piano teacher collides with a wild inmate serving a life sentence for murder and harbouring an extraordinary talent for piano. Traude and Jenny are polarised personalities from the moment that they meet; again and again their differences boil up and threaten Jenny's entry into a young pianist competition. Their path is troubled further by the hostility of prison inmates and staff alike, including Kowalski, an emasculated prison guard played by Richy Muller, and the reappearance of Jenny's father, which dredges up terrible memories.

    Through confrontation of demons past and present, both Traude and Jenny begin to delve into the other's background, revealing the reality beyond the ossified teacher and the abominable student. Traude's history is illuminated through flashbacks to the Second World War, but although these scenes are well choreographed and filmed, they fit awkwardly at best into the main narrative and encroach upon a sterling performance by Monica Bleidbtrau. The details of Jenny's life are left scarce and tantalising, which plays to Hannah Herzsprung's performance, by turns angry and beautiful, scary and charming.

    This film is graced by some excellent pieces of classical music, at least from my standpoint as a layperson in the classical music world. The musical and dramatic highlight comes at the film's climax – the Four Minutes of the film's title, which features a stunningly original composition, encapsulating the turmoil of the previous two hours and leaving a vivid and lasting impression.
    helpful•16
    3
    • Robert_Woodward
    • Apr 14, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 18, 2008 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Germany
    • Official sites
      • Europa Corp. (France)
      • Official site (Germany)
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • 4 Minutes
    • Filming locations
      • Luckau, Brandenburg, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Kordes & Kordes Film GmbH
      • Südwestrundfunk (SWR)
      • Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €1,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,315,125
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS-Stereo
      • DTS
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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