Schultze Gets the Blues (2003)

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

Director:

Michael Schorr

Writer:

Michael Schorr

Stars:

Horst Krause, Harald Warmbrunn, Karl-Fred Müller

11 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Schultze is a retired lignite miner living in an East German village and a passionate Polka musician on his accordion. One night he listens to a Zydeco tune in the radio, which changes his taste of music radically. Notwithstanding his complete ignorance of the English language he starts a trip into the heart of the Zydeco; to Louisana.

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Plot Keywords:

zydeco | accordion | radio | miner | east german | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language

Details

Official Sites:

official website (german and english) [Germany] Paramount Classics

Country:

Germany

Language:

German English French

Release Date:

22 April 2004 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Härra Schultze pensionipõlv

Filming Locations:

Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,722, 20 February 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$594,115, 17 July 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmkombinat,Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min 114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In one of the dancing scenes, a crewmember runs across the screen as the camera follows the elderly dancing couples.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

References Star Trek (1966)

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Soundtracks

Abendtraume
Performed by Original Grinde Buewe

User Reviews

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.