Surreal, mercurial drama from West Germany has troubled-yet-complacent Marianne Sägebrecht leaving a bad marriage and coming across an eccentric café in the California desert. Oddball picture gets off on the wrong foot, with confusing hysteria and shouting from the residents, but those who stick with it will be rewarded by what follows. The sneaky film captures viewers unawares with its sideways message of love and friendship, eventually becoming a rather touching, lovely fantasy about human bonds. The unusual cast, including CCH Pounder, Christine Kaufman and (surprise!) Jack Palance, does strong work, though it is Sägebrecht's beautiful performance which holds the movie together. Followed by a far-inferior television sitcom. *** from ****
Review of Bagdad Cafe
