Teuton's Cajun laffer to spice up Par's slate
Bittersweet comedy 'Schultze' to bow next year
Bittersweet comedy concerns a middle-aged mine worker, forced into early retirement in small-town former East Germany, whose discovery of Louisiana-style zydeco music prompts him to overhaul his traditional accordion style and discover a new sense of passion and adventure.
Nominated for the Prix Fassbinder Discovery prize at the upcoming European Film Awards, the film was shot in Germany, Texas and Louisiana's bayou country. Schorr's approach invites comparison to the deadpan observational style of Scandinavian directors Aki Kaurismaki and Bent Hamer, with humble working-class characters that recall the work of Ken Loach.
"We are delighted to be distributing this passionate and endearing film," said Par Classics co-presidents Ruth Vitale and David Dinerstein. "Michael blended such joyfulness and honesty and his actors are so charming, we were compelled to add 'Schultze' to our slate for next year."
Vitale first saw "Schultze" in Venice and has been working on putting a deal together since September. Par Classics closed on multiple territories, including Australia, New Zealand and Latin America. In Germany and Austria, the comedy will go out via the local arm of United Intl. Pictures.
Deal was negotiated with Schorr and producers Jens Koerner, Thomas Riedel and Oliver Niemeier.
Par Classics currently has "The Singing Detective" with Robert Downey Jr. in release. Upcoming titles include Mike Hodges' "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," with Clive Owen; Matthew Ryan Hoge's "The United States of Leland," produced by Kevin Spacey; Paul McGuigan's "The Reckoning," with Paul Bettany; and David Mackenzie's "Asylum," starring Natasha Richardson and Ian McKellen.
