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Schultze Gets the Blues

Play trailer Poster for Schultze Gets the Blues PG 2005 1h 53m Comedy Drama Music Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
74% Tomatometer 61 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Salt miner Schultze is forced into retirement. He lapses into the boredom of his small German town. An accordion player, the retiree sometimes plays polkas, but it is not until he hears zydeco on the radio that he discovers a new inspiration and applies the fast tempo of zydeco to his accordion playing. But the town's polka scene frowns upon such deviation from tradition. Undaunted, Schultze packs his instrument and heads to zydeco's birthplace: the American South.

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Schultze Gets the Blues

Schultze Gets the Blues

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Critics Consensus

Schultze Gets the Blues is a sweet and charming dark comedy.

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Critics Reviews

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Bill Muller Arizona Republic 04/07/2005
4.5/5
He does, but you probably won't, especially from watching this movie. Go to Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle 03/27/2005
2.5/5
The film's sparseness has an off-putting effect on the viewer. Schultze, the character, remains more an idea or concept than a fleshed-out human being. Go to Full Review Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution 03/25/2005
B
Like a lazy summer day in the Big Easy, the movie sneaks up on you. Go to Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review 08/07/2008
1/5
Russ Breimeier Christianity Today 10/02/2006
3/4
A film with two opposite interpretations to its title -- figuratively sad, literally joyful. Go to Full Review Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice 09/11/2005
4/5
A delightful oddball German comedy about a retired mine worker's musical quest. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Douglas P @bigsky59422 03/17/2023 I read the reviews and thought it would be different than it was. I didn't get it but I may try to watch it again See more BowTangey M @BowTangey 01/18/2021 I came to this film with no preconceptions other than it was a German language comedy. I was pleasantly rewarded by the quirkiness of the characters and the direction. The ending was a bit formulaic, but I still enjoyed the film overall. See more 05/24/2020 Disjointed and at the end and slightly unnerving but delightfully dull throughout! Good metaphor for striking out at life because life is always going to strike back at you. Germanic but thoughtful. What else can you say? See more 09/09/2012 Thinking about how I loved the movie Robot and Frank. I wanted to make sure that people know that this fantastic movie. See more 06/01/2012 Quirky and charming, there's not a lot of dialog or action. Still an interesting view into cross-cultural influence and exchange of music from Germany to the US. See more 04/10/2012 Loved this movie -- doesn't play to short-attention span theatre-goers. The realistic pacing was very refreshing. I found it to be uplifting and very moving. See more Read all reviews
Schultze Gets the Blues

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Schorr

Director

Horst Krause

Schultze

Harald Warmbrunn

Jürgen

Karl-Fred Muller

Manfred

Ursula Schucht

Jürgen's Wife

Hannelore Schubert

Manfred's Wife

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Schultze Gets the Blues

Schultze Gets the Blues (2003) Schultze Gets the Blues (2003) Horst Krause stars as Schultze, a retired German mine worker exploring the American bayou in Paramount Classics SCHULTZE GETS THE BLUES; directed by Michael Schorr. Horst Krause stars as Schultze, a retired mine worker on a journey of self-discovery in Paramount Classics SCHULTZE GETS THE BLUES; directed by Michael Schorr. From left to right, actors Karl-Fred Muller, Horst Krause (Schultze), and Harald Warmbrunn as retirees enjoying a night at the casino with friends in Paramount Classics SCHULTZE GETS THE BLUES Paramount Classics SCHULTZE GETS THE BLUES at the Venice Film Festival; actress Wilhelmine Horschig, director Michael Schorr, producer Thomas Riedel, and producer Jens Körner. Horst Krause stars as Schultze, a musician re-tuning his soul deep in the American South, in Paramount Classics SCHULTZE GETS THE BLUES; directed by Michael Schorr. Horst Krause stars as Schultze, a retiree learning about life down on the bayou in Paramount Classics SCHULTZE GETS THE BLUES; directed by Michael Schorr. Director Michael Schorr on location in Germany shooting Paramount Classics SCHULTZE GETS THE BLUES. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Salt miner Schultze is forced into retirement. He lapses into the boredom of his small German town. An accordion player, the retiree sometimes plays polkas, but it is not until he hears zydeco on the radio that he discovers a new inspiration and applies the fast tempo of zydeco to his accordion playing. But the town's polka scene frowns upon such deviation from tradition. Undaunted, Schultze packs his instrument and heads to zydeco's birthplace: the American South.
Director
Michael Schorr
Producer
Jens Körner
Screenwriter
Michael Schorr
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Filmkombinat GmbH & Co. KG, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
Rating
PG (Mild Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 18, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 12, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$594.1K
Runtime
1h 53m