Film Review: 'Bagdad Cafe' is a Little Gem

Bagdad Café also known as Out of Rosenheim is a 1987 German film in English language.

Bagdad Cafe

The oddball film begins with a German tourist couple fighting in the middle of nowhere in an American  barren desert. The big lady walks away from him - alone to a motel she sees in sight. The grubby ill-maintained motel is owned by short-tempered Brenda who just then had an argument with her husband which resulted in him leaving the motel.

The big lady who was suspiciously ill-treated by Brenda, later befriends her and brings on colorful changes into the lives of Brenda and other characters such as her son, daughter and people residing in the motel. When the motel is being transformed from grimy to an exuberant one, the sheriff makes her to leave the country because her tourist visa got expired. The motel deteriorates back to square one. Will the saviour return?

The film ends with a hypnotising song - "Calling You" sung by Jevetta Steele and leaves us feeling good for the rest of the day.

Though the plot is simple, it is not the plot that makes this film special but the mood it invokes throughout the film and prevails even after hours we finish watching.

Director Percy Adlon has chosen perfect cast for the apt characters. Despite being a plump woman, the German Marianne Sägebrecht throws a beautiful aura around her. CCH Pounder as an irritable motel owner performs well.

The colours of the film literally changes from heat of the summer in the course of bleak atmosphere to vibrant colors when the motel is in better transformation. This subtle cinematography adapts us to the changing mood of the film.

The film plays ancient narrative plot -- an unknown hero arrives in the troubled land, saves the people in turbulence and disappears to nowhere. It is also said that there are allegories in the film referencing to Greek mythology.

This simple poetic film may not be everyone's cup of tea but it could haunt you for days if you let yourself go and relish the nuances of the film.

Location

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The film was shot in a Sidewinder Cafe, Newberry Springs. Few miles away, in a Californian ghost town, the original abandoned Bagdad Cafe is situated. The Sidewinder Cafe took advantage of the film's popularity and changed it's name to Bagdad Cafe - which has now became a tourist attraction.

It is said that German Director Percy Adlon's trip with his wife Elenore Adlon through this desert inspired him to make the film.

Outer view

Interior of present motel

Enjoy visiting these links:

• Present Bagdad Cafe pics
• Bagdad Cafe in Trip Advisor
• Bagdad Cafe's site
• In Wikipedia
• Interesting pics