Four Minutes

Krueger, the prison's piano teacher, surveys new inmates for lessons and encounters Jenny, who is talented but combative. Jenny's raw talent immediately catches Krueger's interest, hinting at a mentor-mentee relationship to come. The encounter takes place in the prison's education wing - music room.

Jenny erupts during the selection, arguing that her hands are too rough for piano and nearly harming guard Mütze. Krueger listens from the hallway and is drawn to Jenny's talent despite the danger. The incident marks a turning point in whether Jenny can win a place in the program.

Krueger offers Jenny a path to lessons only on absolute obedience, including a disturbing test that requires her to eat a sheet of paper as a sign of submission. The act underscores the power dynamic in their relationship and foreshadows moral ambiguity in Krueger's methods. Jenny agrees under pressure, though the question of respect and artistic integrity lingers.

The film reveals that Jenny's adoptive father pushed her toward a Mozart-like prodigy and subjected her to rape, shaping her desires and fears around performance. This trauma fuels her resistance and longing for authentic expression. It also hints at why Krueger relies on discipline as a lifeline.

Krueger confesses a wartime loss and a history of loving another woman, revealing that music became her lifeline and the reason behind her stern teaching. The revelation deepens the mentor's humanity, showing she is not simply an enforcer but someone who survived trauma. Her methods are framed as a bid to shelter her students from harm.

As Jenny's talent threatens to upend the prison order, some inmates resent her favored status and staff question whether allowing her to perform will reflect well on the institution. Director Meyerbeer pushes for positive media attention, sharpening the rivalry and stakes. The tension tightens the atmosphere around the upcoming finals.

Jenny advances toward the finals of a piano competition for players 21 and under, elevating suspense among inmates and guards. Mütze repositions Jenny within the rivals' cell, setting in motion the clash that will test loyalty and discipline. The competition becomes a focal point for personal and institutional conflict.

The rivals retaliate by binding Jenny's hands to a bed with cloth and setting them on fire. Jenny wounds one aggressor in self-defense, while the brutal act tests the limits of discipline and justice within the prison. The incident becomes a tipping point for Krueger's role and Jenny's fate.

Crushed by the incident, Krueger resigns from her post and takes her beloved piano with her. Mütze helps Jenny escape so she can continue to compete, underscoring a fragile, uneasy alliance between guard and mentor. The act shifts Jenny’s path from inside to outside the prison walls.

Alone with her newly returned instrument, Jenny confronts Krueger and learns the deeper reasons behind the stern methods. Krueger explains how her past shaped her approach to music and discipline, urging Jenny to trust her own voice. The revelation redefines their relationship and reinforces music as a lifeline.

Krueger persuades Jenny to perform at the competition, even as police close in to take her back to prison. Jenny has only four minutes to win the crowd, a make-or-break moment that tests her resolve and courage under scrutiny.

Jenny abandons the expected Schumann piece and creates a raw improvisation inspired by her beloved negroman music, channeling John Cage-like sounds from lid-slaps to foot-stomps. The four-minute crescendo becomes a cathartic communal triumph as the audience rises in a standing ovation. The performance redefines the boundaries between discipline and freedom.