Schultze Gets the Blues (2003)

Director:

Michael Schorr

Writer:

Michael Schorr (writer)

Release Date:

22 April 2004 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

It's never too late to re-tune your soul

Plot:

Schultze is an accordion player and newly without work. When the local music club celebrates its 50th anniversary, his taste of music changes unexpectedly.

Plot Keywords:

Accordion | Zydeco | East German | Miner | Accordion Player

Awards:

11 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Horst Krause	...	Schultze
Harald Warmbrunn	...	Jürgen
Karl-Fred Müller	...	Manfred
Ursula Schucht	...	Jürgen's Wife
Hannelore Schubert	...	Manfred's Wife
Erwin Meinicke	...	Skatspieler
Hans Hohmann	...	Skatspieler
Siegfried Zimmermann	...	Skatspieler
Maik Gustävel	...	Automaten-Monteur
Annegret Fritz	...	Wirtin
Wolfgang Boos	...	Gatekeeper
Werner Boche	...	Rasenpfleger
Dora Solter	...	Dame
Anna Spengler	...	Dame
Erika Kirchhof	...	Dame
Leo Fischer	...	Head of Music Club
Günter Dziewicki	...	Vereins-Musiker
Hans-Dieter Dziewicki	...	Vereins-Musiker
Karl Jürgen	...	Vereins-Musiker (as Karl Jürg)
Karl Nachsel	...	Vereins-Musiker
Fritz Fladung	...	Vereins-Musiker
Paul Geppart	...	Vereins-Musiker
Loni Frank	...	Schultze's Mother
Elke Rümmler	...	Nurse
Rosemarie Deibel	...	Frau Lorant
Marylu Poolman	...	Seniorinne #1
Ilse Holtmann	...	Seniorinne #2
Eva Bodnar	...	Seniorinne #3
Tatjana Jakob	...	Radiosprecherin (voice)
Ansgar Frerich	...	Moderator
Hans-Peter Rößiger	...	Physician
Gunnar Schlafmann	...	Cooking Show Host
Wilhelmine Horschig	...	Lisa
Volker Rößiger	...	Priest
Ralph-Peter Borchert	...	Reisebürochef
Volker Nowak	...	Autohändler
Happy Broussard	...	Motelstimme (voice)
Vernie Miller	...	Motelstimme (voice)
Alozia St. Julien	...	Josephine
Kerry Christensen	...	Yodeler
Raimond Darilek	...	Domino Player #1
Freddie Hirsch	...	Domino Player #2
Chris Pilat	...	Domino Player #3
Richard Gaerkner	...	Domino Player #4
Frances Pilat	...	Barmaid
Charles Pilat	...	Barkeeper
Bobby Jones	...	Czech Band
Bob Suttie	...	Czech Band
Harvey Fajkus	...	Czech Band
Gregory Windel	...	Czech Band
Joe Zetka Jr.	...	Czech Band
Jeanne de Valcourt	...	Jäger
Mike de Valcourt	...	Jäger
John Flannagan	...	Jäger
Judy Flannagan	...	Jäger
Tony Roy	...	Jäger
Elton 'Bee' Cormier	...	Fiddler
Marie Bourque	...	Dancing Partner
Jackie Caillier	...	Cajun Band (as Jackie Caillier & the Cajun Cousins)
Francis 'Robe' Roberie	...	Sheriff
Kirk Guidry	...	Captain Kirk
Paul Olivier	...	Polizist
James Thibodeaux	...	Polizist
Fred Lalonde	...	Polizist
Donald Poirier	...	Polizist
Pedro Alexandra	...	Polizist
Carroll Knott	...	Polizist
Donald Harvey	...	Polizist
Anne V. Angelle	...	Aretha
Danielle Krause	...	Shareen
Carl	...	Cockatoo
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carl Mueller	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Schorr

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Schorr		writer

Produced by
Jens Körner	....	producer
Oliver Niemeier	....	producer
Thomas Riedel	....	producer
Claudia Tronnier	....	producer: ZDF

Original Music by
Dirk Niemeier
Thomas Wittenbecher

Cinematography by
Axel Schneppat

Film Editing by
Tina Hillmann

Casting by
Michael Schorr
Karen Wendland

Production Design by
Natascha Tagwerk

Art Direction by
Natascha Tagwerk

Set Decoration by
Sabine Enste

Costume Design by
Constanze Hagedorn

Makeup Department
Lara Feldmann	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Daniela Barsch	....	unit manager
Jens Körner	....	production manager
Oliver Niemeier	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Armisen	....	trainee assistant director
Christian Stollwerk	....	assistant director

Art Department
Sabin Enste	....	property master

Sound Department
Ansgar Frerich	....	boom operator
Sebastian Kleinloh	....	boom operator
Jörg Klinkenberg	....	foley artist
Christian Lerch	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dirk Niemeier	....	sound designer
Dirk Niemeier	....	sound editor
Dirk Niemeier	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Philipp Gerhardt	....	lighting technician
Ralf Peter Hahmann	....	assistant camera (as Ralf Hahmann)
Daniel Klaucke	....	gaffer
Billy MacTavish	....	grip (as William MacTavish)
Grit Schwerdtfeger	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sonja Hesse	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Charlie Huser	....	color timer
Milenka Nawka	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Gerard Martin	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Filmkombinat
• Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (co-production)

Distributors

• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Look Now! (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Look Now! (200?) (Switzerland) (DVD) (French speaking region)
• Pelicanfilms (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD) (German speaking region)
• Cinemien (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Lady Film (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Paramount Classics (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Solaris Distribution (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Homescreen (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2006) (Argentina) (all media)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language

Runtime:

114 min | Argentina:114 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Germany

Language:

German | English | French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. (f) | Netherlands:AL | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Germany

Company:

Filmkombinat

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In one of the dancing scenes, a crewmember runs across the screen as the camera follows the elderly dancing couples.

Quotes:

Captain Kirk:[while hooking up Schultze's boat] I'm captain Kirk.

Movie Connections:

References "Star Trek" (1966)

Soundtrack:

Schultze Polka

Slow, not boring

This movie takes its time to develop. In more than one respect it reminded me of a Kaurismäki film. The landscape is depressing, the colors are not very bright, the shots are long and there is not much dialogue. And people seem only to come alive (whether it's in Germany or the US) when they're making music. There are moments of comedy but not many. Instead, you get to watch "everyday life" for a long time before something happens. And when it happens, it's not a dramatic turn or twist . . . It does not incite the characters to change completely . . . There is just a small change.

When you put all of this together, you get a very touching tale of humanity. A tale of friendship and loneliness. I think the characters are portrayed in a very life-like fashion (for example, when the loner Schultze travels to the US he is no more capable of socially connecting with people than he was in his hometown). You have to be patient with the story because there is no classic structure (exposition, story development, climax) . . . but I got really attached to the characters. There is a lot of loneliness in this film. But this is what makes it so attractive.