Schultze Gets the Blues

I think this film is supposed to be an uplifting story about a man who, late in life, finds a new source of joy and meaning. I found it almost unbearably depressing, but then, I think that It’s a Wonderful Life is a downbeat tale. Horst Krause plays Schultze in the universal story of an old man who is laid off from his job in a salt mine, and then finds that he no longer loves to play polka music on his accordion. Sure, we’ve seen it before, but the twist is that Schultze discovers a love for Zydeco music. This doesn’t go over so well in the small German town where he lives, but when he gets the chance to go to America, he discovers the joys of a country where people welcome you into their homes with gumbo and good times. It’s very touching and a bit disturbing, and the cinematography is careful and expressive. On the whole, it’s a winning combination, if you’re willing to accept the sadness that permeates the story.