Four Minutes

A gifted but combative inmate whose hands are deemed too rough for piano, she channels anger into raw musical potential. Her arc centers on resilience in the face of punitive tests and rivalries within the prison, culminating in a four-minute performance that defies expectations. Her trauma from an adoptive father and her insistence on self-expression drive much of the film’s tension and hope.

A piano teacher with a secret wartime history and a past love that informs her stern but caring approach. She conducts harsh, exacting tests to mold Jenny, yet her own vulnerability gradually surfaces, revealing why music remains a lifeline for her. Her ultimate choice to support Jenny shows the complexity of justice, empathy, and personal history.

The prison guard who enforces order yet becomes involved in Jenny’s escape, illustrating the equivocal nature of power within the system. He moves Jenny into rivals’ cell and later aids in her flight, highlighting loyalty and the thin line between control and mercy. His actions reveal the unsure morality of those who police confinement.

The prison director eager for favorable media attention, shaping the environment with a focus on public image. His drive for a success story clashes with the inmates’ desires for dignity and autonomy, underscoring tensions between institutional reputation and individual justice. He embodies the authority that both constrains and motivates the characters’ choices.