Four Minutes

In the women's prison, Traude Krueger begins observing and mentoring her new pupil, Jenny von Loeben, with a wary but hopeful eye. Jenny is rough and resistant, and a moment of ferocity nearly injures guard Mütze. Krueger sees a rare musical talent beneath the surface and starts offering lessons, though she sets strict, non-negotiable conditions.

Krueger imposes a strange test of obedience by asking Jenny to swallow a sheet of paper to prove compliance. She also bluntly orders Jenny to abandon that kind of negro-music. The scene marks how power and control frame their early relationship.

Jenny's adoptive father once pushed her toward a Mozart-like prodigy, a dream that faltered and left her with trauma. Krueger hopes to rekindle Jenny's future by guiding her toward a prestigious competition, believing music can be a path to release and recognition. The plan is complicated by jealousy among inmates and skepticism from staff.

Several prison figures want control over how Jenny's gift is displayed, while the director sees a chance to bolster the facility's image with a positive media story. Krueger navigates these tensions as she coordinates practice, appearances, and the politics of reform. The environment tests her resolve as an educator and as a shield for Jenny.

Jenny rises toward the finals of a prestigious under-21 piano contest as Krueger mentors her through intense rehearsals. The talent shines beneath the pressure, but rumor and rivalry from fellow inmates threaten support. The path to the competition becomes a stage for power plays within the prison system.

A hostile transfer by Mütze moves Jenny into the hands of rival inmates, where they restrain her hands and threaten to break her spirit through violence. The assault leaves her visibly marked and temporarily barred from the competition. The incident exposes a deliberate manipulation of the contest's integrity.

Krueger confronts Mütze and uncovers a scheme that reveals the guard engineered the conflict to manipulate outcomes. The confrontation exposes underlying corruption within the prison's power structure. The truth triggers a turning point in Krueger's relationship with Jenny and the system.

Krueger resigns from the institution and takes her beloved piano with her, signaling a break with the system that tried to control Jenny's display. Mütze aids Jenny's escape so she can continue to perform and prove herself, even outside the prison's confines. This escape marks a risky pivot toward artistic authenticity over institutional approval.

Revelations about Krueger's ties to Jenny's past come to light, and Jenny suspects bribery or manipulation connected to her adoptive father. Krueger shares her own history, describing a great love lost to war and political conviction and how she came to teach the piano. This confession deepens their bond and reframes the stakes of their struggle.

Krueger shares her own history, describing how a great love was lost to the turmoil of war and political conviction, and how she came to teach the piano. This confession deepens Jenny's understanding of Krueger and reframes the stakes of their struggle. The moment deepens their bond and signals a turning point in their approach to the system.

With police drawing near and only four minutes left to win the crowd, Jenny makes a bold choice to perform something personal and provocative. She abandons the prescribed repertoire and embraces a piece shaped by her own voice, a Cage-inspired approach with unconventional sounds. The tension peaks as the crowd and authorities hold their breath.

Jenny's performance, with lid-slaps, percussive hits, feet stomping, and string plucks, connects with the audience on a visceral level. The crowd rises in a standing ovation, moved by the raw power of authentic self-expression. The authorities realize they cannot predict or suppress music that can provoke such a response.

The film meditates on how music can be both a weapon against coercive power and a balm for trauma. The bond between Krueger and Jenny evolves from authority and pupil to a shared resilience forged through memory and risk. The final image lingers on applause and the possibility that authentic creativity can outpace coercion.