Vier Minuten (2006)

Director:

Chris Kraus

Writer:

Chris Kraus (writer)

Release Date:

18 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

The next German film sensation after The Lives of Others

Plot:

An elderly piano teacher trains a young convict at a women's penitentiary.

Plot Keywords:

Piano | Prison | Lesbian Interest | Gay Interest

Awards:

21 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Monica Bleibtreu	...	Traude
Hannah Herzsprung	...	Jenny
Sven Pippig	...	Mütze
Richy Müller	...	Kowalski
Jasmin Tabatabai	...	Ayse
Stefan Kurt	...	Direktor Meyerbeer
Vadim Glowna	...	Gerhard von Loeben
Nadja Uhl	...	Nadine Hoffmann
Peter Davor	...	Journalist Wahrig
Edita Malovcic	...	Traude - jung
Christian Koerner	...	SS-Sturmbannführer
Kathrin Kestler	...	Hannah
Amber Bongard	...	Clara Mütze
Dietrich Hollinderbäumer	...	Pater Vincens
Dieter Moor	...	TV-Moderator

Also Known As:

4 Minutes (International: English title)
Four Minutes (International: English title)
Nur für Mozart (Germany) (working title)

Runtime:

112 min | Canada:112 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color (Technicolor) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo

Certification:

Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:12 | Czech Republic:12 | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R13

Filming Locations:

Luckau, Brandenburg, Germany

Company:

Arte

Trivia:

English subtitles can in no way indicate the siezen/duzen interplay between Frau Traude Krüger and pupil Jenny von Loeben; let alone the significance thereof.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In several sequences where we see Jenny playing the piano, the notes we hear do not correspond to the keys she plays.

Movie Connections:

References The Blues Brothers (1980)

Beautiful and emotional,a must see movie

An elderly spinster piano teacher in a womens prison,Mrs.Kruger, takes one of the inmates,Jenny,under her wing.The teacher loves music but can't connect with people.Jenny is young and absolutely gifted,but hates playing because it brings back a personal trauma from her past.The teacher tries to teach the student about respect,whilst the student reminds the teacher what it's like to be young and emotional.

There are sub plots concerning both of their respective past personal lives but basically,it is just about two characters from vastly different generations and backgrounds who form an uneasy alliance in a harsh environment,and both of them benefit from the experience.

Keep a box of tissues handy because the film is an emotional roller-coaster.I have no doubt that if they remade this in Hollywood with A-list stars, (which they probably eventually will),that it would clean up at the Oscars.But I guarantee that it would not be as good as this movie.

Four Minutes (Vier Minuten) is actually about 110 minutes,and pretty much every one of them is worthy.A must see movie.