Bagdad Cafe (1988)

A strange, perfect tale

A zaftig German tourist has a major tiff with her boorish husband in the middle of the desert outside Las Vegas, yanks a suitcase out of the car and stomps off for points unknown. Her husband, perhaps to make a point, drives off without looking back.

Several hours later, the wife (Marianne Sagebrecht) arrives dusty and dishevelled at the only populated spot on the horizon, the run-down, lethargic Bagdad Oil and Gas and Cafe, run by a cranky woman named Brenda(the incomparable CCH Pounder). Brenda has just driven her husband away with her hystrionics, but her disposition seems earned; she is riding herd on a failing business, assisted only by a less-than-inspired cook, while trying to keep track of a free-spirit teenage daughter who cavalierly rides off with motorcyclists and truck drivers for days at a time. Brenda also is plagued by a son whose only interest in life is playing etudes and fugues on the piano; there is also the matter of his infant son, who is never explained (Brenda's son seems far too young to be responsible for an infant, but there it is, and no mother in sight). It all makes Brenda more than a little cranky. And when a strange, foreign lady in odd clothing appears at the door wanting a room at the adjoining motel, her patience is sorely tried.

The German tourist, Jasmin, comes to the Cafe because it is the only thing in sight. She asks for a room in the motel, while musing privately about the state of uncleanliness throughout the business, and views the other denizens of the motel with a guarded eye. Rudi Coxx (Jack Palance, in a stellar turn), an ex-set painter from Hollywood, dresses outlandishly and lives, apparently, in a small travel trailer on the property. Debby, who lives in the motel, carries on a highly successful ad hoc tattoo business; truck drivers literally launch themselves from their rigs and race to her room. (You might get the wrong idea of the nature of her work from their initial enthusiasm, but her calling is made clear very early on.)

Jasmin quietly makes herself indispensible to Brenda, after Brenda's initial suspicions; she is won over by Jasmin's gentle nature and willingness to aid Brenda in whatever way necessary. Jasmin wins the hearts of Brenda's teenage children also, and she quickly becomes part of the oddball family of misfits.

This movie is an unqualified joy. Nothing momentous happens here, unless you count Jasmin's unifying of the oddities into a working unit; it is simply a sweet, surreal two hours in which to lose oneself. All the acting is first-rate; Marianne Sagebrecht made a few appearances in American movies, probably on the strength of her role here, and does a fine job as the sweet but determined Jasmin. Jack Palance performs so admirably that he should have been nominated for Best Supporting, although the role was a blip on the radar amongst the big-budget movies of that year. And CCH Pounder transforms wonderfully from the frenetic, wired, bad-tempered harridan of the first fifteen minutes of the movie to the accepting and content cafe manager of later in the film.

I saw this movie a few years after it came out, and was instantly hooked. At some point I hope they come down a bit on the price, but at least it's finally in DVD; for a long time I could not find it in that format. It is well deserving of being on the shelf of any serious film buff; a gentle, honest treatment of the power of positive tninking and good will. Highly recommended.



September 21, 2008

Endearing, atmospheric film

This is an offbeat, delightful film about the growth of affection and the overcoming of cultural barriers. The contrast of certain German (or perhaps more specifically, Bavarian) standards with American is a source of hilarity to the viewers that know both cultures, but everyone I've talked to agrees that the gradual rapprochement between all these quirky, essentially warmhearted characters is endearing. Yet it almost miraculously manages to avoid sentimentality and certainly avoids superficiality. The music of the soundtrack is also haunting. I would have given it 5 stars except that there is one scene with a musical number that seems unnecessary and drags down the flow of the story only at that point. But otherwise it's a thoroughly charming, atmospheric film that I absolutely love. July 8, 2008

Bagdad Cafe a collectors classic

So enjoyed having added this classic to my collection of fantasy fables.
It was hard to find and I was surprised at the price. After such a long
search, it was worth it. I guess I have joined a "classics cult". Charming, offbeat and watchable over and over.
January 12, 2008

Strange but good

This movie was not one that I had ever heard of and I ordered it on a spur of the moment. I was not dissapointed. January 11, 2008

Movie To Share With My Family

We have always enjoyed this movie. Its values hold true over the years. The acting is excellant and the story is timeless. People can and do pull together when under stress. We may need a reminder from time to time, maybe this film should be re-released into theaters. September 27, 2007

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