Review of Bagdad Cafe (1987) by Ron P — 12 Sep 2011
Jasmin is a middle aged German woman on a trip across America with her husband. In the middle of the California Desert the couple have a fight and Jasmin decides to leave her no-good spouse. She ends up finding a motel called Bagdad Cafà (C) in the void, far away from any discernible civilization. Jasmin settles in, but her silent, not English speaking demeanor proves to be at complete odds with Brenda, the woman who manages Bagdad with her family.
âBagdad Cafà (C)â? is a hit-and-miss endeavor. It works as a story of otherness, celebrating the human potential for adaptation and learning. It explores the relationship between two women who have a completely different personal culture. The clashing of those cultures serves as a source of tension and functions as a representation of a broader phenomenon. The film doesnâ(TM)t quite live up to the potential of its premise, but it delivers.
What really saves âBagdad Cafà (C)â? is the strong ambience of the setting. The emptiness of the desert, the heat and loneliness of it come across beautifully through innovative cinematography. The motel feels like an isolated reality on the edge of time, granting the viewer an escapist satisfaction.
This review of Bagdad Cafe (1987) was written by Ron P on 12 Sep 2011.
Bagdad Cafe has generally received positive reviews.
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