Bagdad Cafe

(1987)

★ 7.2 IMDb · 447 votes

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Year: 1987

Runtime: 112 мин

Country: Germany

Director: Percy Adlon

Cast: Marianne Sägebrecht, Си Си Эйч Паундер, Jack Palance, Кристина Кауфман, Monica Calhoun, Darron Flagg, George Aguilar, G. Smokey Campbell, Hans Stadlbauer, Alan S. Craig

Plot

A German woman named Jasmin stumbles upon a dilapidated motel/diner in the middle of nowhere. Her unusual appearance and demeanor are at first suspicious to Brenda, the exasperated owner who has difficulty making ends meet. But when an unlikely magic sparks between the two women, this lonely desert outpost is transformed into a thriving and popular oasis.

A look into the lives (and minds) of some people everyone has encountered but few really ever get to know. This "fish out of water" tale shows how one person can affect a disparate community. The Adlons express the view that change and "magic" comes from hard work and mutual understanding/acceptance. A well-crafted view of the lives of people everywhere and the difficulties we all can face. A whimsical story, lovingly shot by people who--unfamiliar with what others too often ignore given this arid area--the bleak, arid Southwest, an almost fairytale-like beauty.