Bagdad Cafe (1987)

88% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
88% of users liked it
(6,956 ratings)

This West German film is set in the California Desert. A husband-and-wife pair of Bavarian tourists become stranded when their car breaks down; after a quarrel, the wife, Marianne Sagebrecht, gathers her luggage and stalks off. She stops at the Bagdad Cafe, a fleapit truckstop run by outspoken… More This West German film is set in the California Desert. A husband-and-wife pair of Bavarian tourists become stranded when their car breaks down; after a quarrel, the wife, Marianne Sagebrecht, gathers her luggage and stalks off. She stops at the Bagdad Cafe, a fleapit truckstop run by outspoken C.C.H. Pounder, who is also having husband problems. The Cafe has become a magnet for some of truly odd character: temperamental Hispanic cook George Aguilar, tattoo artist Christine Kaufmann, and onetime Hollywood set designer Jack Palance. Despite obvious personality differences, Sagebrecht and Pounder become friends. Bagdad Cafe was later adapted into a short-lived American sitcom starring Jean Stapleton and Whoopi Goldberg. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Percy Adlon
Written By: Eleonore Adlon, Percy Adlon
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 29, 1988 Wide
On DVD: Jul 24, 2001
Studio: Virgin Vision

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Unfortunately, the film's curious conceits remain implausible even on a fantasy level, and most of the satirical possibilities are either sidestepped or fumbled.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Percy Adlon's first English-speaking film is a charming fable about the friendhsip between two vastly different women.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
This 20-year-old film reminds us of a time before independent movies became the formulaic fare they often are these days.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Quirky but slow-paced character story.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An exotic celebration of the beauty of human personality and friendship.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Starts out like low budget community theater but that's probably part of its charm. Bagdad Cafe has substance and heart that reveals itself in a slow-burn of oddball characters and intelligent scripting.
Daniel P

Bizarre, eccentric, and for the most part quite wonderful film. Jasmin, a tourist from Bavaria, Germany, walks away from her husband in the middle of the Mojave Desert and eventually stumbles upon a rundown roadside cafe/motel/gas station, managed by the stressed out and overworked… More
Bizarre, eccentric, and for the most part quite wonderful film. Jasmin, a tourist from Bavaria, Germany, walks away from her husband in the middle of the Mojave Desert and eventually stumbles upon a rundown roadside cafe/motel/gas station, managed by the stressed out and overworked Brenda (CCH Pounder, The Shield). The two characters clash as they try to make sense of each other; Brenda is suspicious of Jasmin as she arrived without a car and with a suitcase full of men's clothes and magic tricks. Jasmin, meanwhile, fills her time by befriending Brenda's children and setting to work at cleaning the motel, much to Brenda's irritation. Gradually (this is a slow paced film), the two form an understanding and a friendship, and the cafe is soon attracting lots of visitors due to word-of-mouth. The film is graced with very unusual but strong performances from the two leads, and from some stunning photography and off-kilter editing. A frankly surreal music number near the end is toe-curlingly embarrassing and almost ruins what has gone before, but the film just about rights itself in its final scenes. The film was successful enough to warrant a spin-off television series starring Whoopi Goldberg, which ran for two seasons.
Anastasia B

beautiful. mesmerising, joyful film-making, of the kind that you wish there was more. reality and dream mix - Percy Adlon knows the right doses. a happiness pill for easy riders and cool viewers. in my opinion, excellent. 5/5
Donna D

I think I found a favorite in this simple but yet charming movie. Wonderful scripted with great acting by both Sagebrecht and Pounder. Not to mention great performance by Jack Palance, himself in a story of two women with two different backgrounds, but same situation of leaving their… More
I think I found a favorite in this simple but yet charming movie. Wonderful scripted with great acting by both Sagebrecht and Pounder. Not to mention great performance by Jack Palance, himself in a story of two women with two different backgrounds, but same situation of leaving their husbands behind. The outcome is suprising and will leave you happy with the ending. Great movie and now one of my top favorites!!! Also, love the song "Calling You" which is the theme song to the movie. Charming and wonderful. I give it two thumbs up! ;)
Leo L

Good movie!
Linda K

Better than I expected!