Western Courier

Issue date: 9/16/05 Section: The Edge

As fall slowly settles in, it reminds us of bratwurst, sauerkraut and German beer. Oktoberfest is a time for celebrating polka and funny hats. Yet, the international film "Schultze Gets The Blues," gives off the same mood without the hangover.

The quiet (but not boring), subtitled film was released in Germany in 2003, and was written/directed by Michael Schorr, who gives the main character, Schultze (Horst Krause), a genuine quality of curiosity toward an unknown future of self-discovery.

Schultze and his two friends, Jurgen (Harald Warmbrunn) and Manfred (Karl-Fred Muller) live in a small town in Germany that only calls for working at the salt mine, drinking at the pub, attending folk music club and fishing.

When the three are forced into early retirement, Schultze has a lot of time to take naps, play chess, visit his mother at the retirement center, listen to the radio and play the accordion. The randomness is much like Napoleon Dynamite, with little importance or sense to many of the scenes. Schultze barely utters a whole sentence the entire movie, but his personality shines through with his gentle and sweet mannerisms.

One evening before he falls asleep, he hears Cajun Zydeco music on the radio and becomes curious. Quickly, he innocently confesses that something might be wrong with him to his doctor, because he does not want to play boring polka music any longer on his accordion. Slowly, Schultze introduces his friends to American culture, and most notably, the deep South. The humble man even cooks up jambalaya for his friends to try. Schultze performed his new American Cajun Zydeco music a couple of times among the traditional locals, but sadly, no reaction.

Luckily, Schultze is picked from his folk music club to attend a music festival in Texas, a perfect chance for him to discover the heart of Zydeco. That is where he meets many friendly people in the Louisiana bayou that show him southern hospitality along the way.

Schultze's quiet and charming personality gives this film a worthy consideration. The subtle humor is added delicately and carefully. The main plot is somewhat unattainable but the adventures and people that came across simple Schultze found that his gentle giant qualities were endearing and sweet.

- Jenny Wittman

Edge staff

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