Schultze Gets the Blues | Review

Schorr makes music for the eyes with directorial fiction debut.

Like Alexander Payne’s (About Schmidt), Schultze Gets the Blues offers a genuine look at the 2nd portion of life, exploring how one man’s comfort with years of routine gets challenged by some new impromptu cerebral sparks during the first moments into retirement. With a snail’s pace, told with a narrative that feels naturally unhurried, and sparse in dialogue this modest piece from German helmer Michael Schorr draws on the familiar style of a Kaurismäki film.

Such as the shots of underperforming wind-powered energy suppliers, life is especially slow for a trio of new retirees – though retirement provides more occasions to visit with friends and family, simply put – these Krauts have way too much time on their hands. This two-sided postcard from the damp German valley and then onto the swampy Louisiana backwoods sees a former miner (Horst Krause) with a waist- sized demeanor of a person that indulged in country’s nation drink. Schultze loves his lawn ornaments and who happens to play some mean polka on the accordion – that is until a revitalizing moment that proves that it is never too late for change.

Though the film’s title may, on the surface, be misleading, what it tells the viewer about the film protagonist is that moment in time where the flash light-bulb moment in a person’s life appears. This film counts on the small, read the fine print moments to reveal itself as the gem that it is. Generous minimalist moments such as when a new recipe in tried out for his guests or when Schultze wrestles with the interesting Cajun sounds coming from his radio are well combined with the visuals that negotiate between symbolical framed shots and Schorr’s docu style approach. The entire film embodies a humane spirit – it almost appears as if some of the camera angles are deliberately removed from a movie-production set-up, giving the impression that the encounters between Americans and the big old good German who can hardly speak English feel completely un-staged.

Especially noteworthy with Schultze Gets the Blues, is how the protagonist’s journey feels uncharted, free from the constraints and the need to tell and spell out a fully logical story. The film does make a point out of expressing how the passion for music and human kindness does transcend language barriers. While the film does take its time, clocking over the 2 hour mark – audiences will be rewarded for the collection of small moments that deal with the post 9 to 5 work life in a sincere voice. In a nutshell, this filmic treat is a fascinating watch about an unfascinating man.

Rating 3.5 stars