FOUR MINUTES   

Review By Shane Morton

Directed By:              Chris Kraus

Produced By:            Alexandra Kordes, Meike Kordes

Written By:                Chris Kraus

Featuring:                 Hannah Herzsprung, Monica Bleibtreu, Sven Pippig, Richy Müller, Jasmin Tabatabai

MPAA Rating:           NR

Hannah Herzsprung and Monica Bleibtreu in FOUR MINUTES
Credit: Judith Kaufmann/Kordes & Kordes Film Production

Four Minutes is not a film for everyone.  Nor should it be.  But, it is a film that definitely deserves your time.

Four Minutes revolves around an elderly spinster named Traude Kruger (Monica Bleibtreu), who has what she considers a dark terrible secret hidden in her past.  She teaches piano at the local penitentiary and is close to losing her job unless she finds new students.  With the help of her friend and prison guard Mutze (Sven Pippig), she discovers a musical prodigy hidden within the walls of the prison.  A young woman named Jenny von Loeben (Hannah Herzsprung), who was convicted of murder, was once a classical pianist in her youth.  I know, it seems a little convenient, but just go with it.  In an effort to keep her job and do something important Ms. Kruger enrolls this “prisoner” in a national piano competition.  The two play a cat-and-mouse game of learning to trust each other.  Throughout the teacher-pupil exercise they begin to understand and deal with the dark pasts and secrets they each possess.  The last true four minutes of this film is the concerto that is so awe inspiring it has to be seen to be understood.

This is not a new story.  Universal themes of old and new clashing and growing to understand each other is common-place in history and the arts.  In this story, it is conveyed in the fact that Jenny likes “new” music and Traude likes classical, as well as their ages and demeanor.  What makes this story work so well, is the subtle lesbian storyline of Traude’s past and the amazing music used as a backdrop throughout this film.  The score is another character come to life, told through all the various composers, themes and styles.

Hannah Herzsprung in FOUR MINUTES
Credit: Judith Kaufmann/Kordes & Kordes Film Production

This is also a nicely directed film, coming in at 114 minutes.  Though, I felt the film seemed a little weighty in the middle.  However, the fantastic script and beautiful cinematography truly inspires and I found it hard to believe this was only Chris Kraus’ second feature.  The film is a multi award winning festival gem and even captured the 2007 German Oscar the Golden Lola Award for Best Film and Best Actress for Monika Bleibtreu. 

And that is what truly separates this film from many others I have seen this year.  Four Minutes has two lead actresses that give wonderful performances.  Monika Bleibtreu and Hannah Herzsprung are a tour-de-force in their roles and make a good movie, great.  The last “Four Minutes” of this film belong to Hannah.  Her performance needs to be seen by as many people as possible.  If you see it playing in your area, I would recommend it.