‘Schultze Gets the Blues’, was a surprise hit for German director Michael Schorr in 2003 and 2004, and tells the story of Schultze, a man who has spent his whole life in a small town in a small eastern German. Schultze’s life, divided between work and the pub, his allotment garden, folk music and fishing, is rudely interrupted when he and his mates Manfred and Juergen lose their jobs. As maintaining the daily routine deteriorates into a farce, Schultze stumbles upon a program of zydeco music on the radio and finds himself drawn to its fiery spirit.

When Schultze’s attempt to share his new enthusiasm with his friends is met with head shaking disapproval, he finds himself forced to choose between sliding back into the old ways or ending up as the local freak. Schultze’s fateful decision takes him deep into the swamps and bayous of Louisiana … and back again …

Schorr’s film effectively blurs the lines between documentary and fiction using an approach he terms “heightened reality” to capture scenes of daily life in both rural Sachsen-Anhalt and the American South. Told with a genuine affection for its characters and the landscapes it presents, Schorr’s film is at times humorous, moving and insightful.

This film is presented in German with English subtitles and as part of CCGES’ German Film Series. It will be introduced by Gabriele Mueller, a CCGES faculty affiliate and a professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics.

Time: 3:00-5:30 pm
Location: Nat Taylor Cinema, N102 Ross Building