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Special Features
16:9 Wide Screen
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Stereo English
Dolby Digital Stereo
Chapter Access
Moving Menus And Transitions
Cast And Director Filmographies
Theatrical Trailer
Photo Gallery With Directors Captions
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Stereo English
Dolby Digital Stereo
Chapter Access
Moving Menus And Transitions
Cast And Director Filmographies
Theatrical Trailer
Photo Gallery With Directors Captions
Product Description
Bagdad cafe newspaper version
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a movie you will either love or hate. If you are looking for plot, action or realism, don't go there. If you love Frank Capra and "It's a Wonderful Life", this movie is for you. Percy Adlon is a German indie director with a strange sense of humour (well, he is German after all) but a warm feeling for humanity and its potential.
A German couple quarrel in the desert, leaving the wife Jasmin (Marianne Sagerbrecht) stranded; she staggers to the run-down Bagdad Cafe by the highway, checks into the sleazy motel, and proceeds to change the lives of the dead-end no-hopers who are washed up there. Chief among these is the sour Brenda (CCH Pounder), who runs the cafe and drags her feckless husband, dreamy son and flighty daughter in her wake. More than that would be unfair to say, except to indicate that Magic is important to the minimal plot, and Magic is the business of the film. At one point a character says, "The magic has gone," and that's true both literally and metaphorically.
The performances have been criticised elsewhere here, but I see nothing wrong with them at all. Perhaps more importantly, everyone looks perfect for their parts, with the exception of Jack Palance who is under-used.
For the first 20 minutes or so I was frustrated by the jumpy, nudging directorial style which seemed to be trying to say that the movies was funnier than it actually was. In truth it's a bit of a slow burn, but patience is rewarded as soon as you allow yourself to be drawn towards these oddballs.
Much is unexplained. Why does Marianne decide to stay here? Why is Brenda's husband always watching through binoculars from a nearby hillside? How come Marianne's husband never comes looking for her? How come Brenda's son Salomo (Darren Flagg) happens to have acquired both the sheet music to Bach's Preludes and Fugues in the middle of nowhere, and the ability to play them? (Where the hell would anybody go to school?) These things will either worry you or they won't. I say, relax and enjoy.
A German couple quarrel in the desert, leaving the wife Jasmin (Marianne Sagerbrecht) stranded; she staggers to the run-down Bagdad Cafe by the highway, checks into the sleazy motel, and proceeds to change the lives of the dead-end no-hopers who are washed up there. Chief among these is the sour Brenda (CCH Pounder), who runs the cafe and drags her feckless husband, dreamy son and flighty daughter in her wake. More than that would be unfair to say, except to indicate that Magic is important to the minimal plot, and Magic is the business of the film. At one point a character says, "The magic has gone," and that's true both literally and metaphorically.
The performances have been criticised elsewhere here, but I see nothing wrong with them at all. Perhaps more importantly, everyone looks perfect for their parts, with the exception of Jack Palance who is under-used.
For the first 20 minutes or so I was frustrated by the jumpy, nudging directorial style which seemed to be trying to say that the movies was funnier than it actually was. In truth it's a bit of a slow burn, but patience is rewarded as soon as you allow yourself to be drawn towards these oddballs.
Much is unexplained. Why does Marianne decide to stay here? Why is Brenda's husband always watching through binoculars from a nearby hillside? How come Marianne's husband never comes looking for her? How come Brenda's son Salomo (Darren Flagg) happens to have acquired both the sheet music to Bach's Preludes and Fugues in the middle of nowhere, and the ability to play them? (Where the hell would anybody go to school?) These things will either worry you or they won't. I say, relax and enjoy.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Absolutely wonderful movie, what a great surprise. Don't be misled by the title! Delightful, simple yet profound, moving story! Oddly stunning visually with a great soundtrack.
No clues. just watch it and enjoy. It will leave you with a warm tingling feeling and totally satisfied that you have discovered a simple masterpiece. One to watch with a bunch of friends... what i did last night and i'm buying it now with the soundtrack as a gift. xx Z
No clues. just watch it and enjoy. It will leave you with a warm tingling feeling and totally satisfied that you have discovered a simple masterpiece. One to watch with a bunch of friends... what i did last night and i'm buying it now with the soundtrack as a gift. xx Z
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I got this film as a newspaper freebie ages ago, and knew nothing about it (other than that it was supposed to be good) before sticking it in the DVD player for the first time tonight.
And, I have to say, I enjoyed it immensely. No, it's not one of those films where the acting is of such outstanding class, or the story so powerful that you feel that you've experienced something completely earth-shattering.
Indeed, there isn't a great deal to the story - and it's a shame that some of the other reviews have revealed as much as they have - but the depth of the story isn't really the point. Rather, the point is that the story is very far from the usual "gas station in the middle of nowhere" one.
No, it is different, quirky, well-acted, and very watchable. And it left me with a feel-good glow.
Would I pay full price for it? Probably not.
Am I glad that I have it in my collection? A definite yes.
And, I have to say, I enjoyed it immensely. No, it's not one of those films where the acting is of such outstanding class, or the story so powerful that you feel that you've experienced something completely earth-shattering.
Indeed, there isn't a great deal to the story - and it's a shame that some of the other reviews have revealed as much as they have - but the depth of the story isn't really the point. Rather, the point is that the story is very far from the usual "gas station in the middle of nowhere" one.
No, it is different, quirky, well-acted, and very watchable. And it left me with a feel-good glow.
Would I pay full price for it? Probably not.
Am I glad that I have it in my collection? A definite yes.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bright Colours, Weird Angles, Big Heart....
Here's a lovely oddity from little known German director Percy Adlon - his first in English. Set in the Arizona scrub is a scruffy diner, where a motley crew of staff and regulars... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tim Kidner
WOW a mesmerising film, hauntingly fab music and nice feel good film.
This superb film won many awards and justifiably so. Haunting, yet brilliant music begins the film as the first two characters act out their argument without much talking. Read more
Published 16 months ago by C. E. Challinor
Fantastic
Beautifully executed by unique actors. One can see great nature of South-western USA in background. Music also celestial. We watch this DVD anytime we feel like being in USA. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Adlerinternational
One of my favourite films
Bagdad Cafe is one of my all time favourites. I go back to it every so often, especially if I'm feeling fed up. It's quirky and funny, a bit arty and has that 'feel good' factor. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Celtica
Delightful, sweet, human, and odd.
A wonderful, funny, odd, and unique film.
Strong acting all around (Jack Palance is amazing). Inventive use of
distorted colors and changing camera speeds. Read more
Strong acting all around (Jack Palance is amazing). Inventive use of
distorted colors and changing camera speeds. Read more
Published on 18 May 2010 by K. Gordon
Bagdad Café
Dear Sirs,
The film "Bagdad Cafe" which I purchased last week has perfectly acceptable visuals, but the only sub-titles permitted are in GERMAN ! Read more
The film "Bagdad Cafe" which I purchased last week has perfectly acceptable visuals, but the only sub-titles permitted are in GERMAN ! Read more
Published on 6 July 2009 by G. Fifield-hall
a zany, delightful comedy
This is a film for those who enjoy a really good story without violence or overt sex. It's thoroughly enjoyable and funny, relating the arrival of a rather houseproud German woman... Read more
Published on 11 April 2009 by C. Madina
Music can move you
I only bought this dvd because one of my favourite songs "Calling You" was from the film and oh boy am I glad I did. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2009 by R. Cockerill
Quirky but threadbare and sentimental
I bought this because of the Amazon 5star rating. On the upside it's quirky. The back cover describes it as a comedy - it has strong elements of German humour with conceptual... Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2008 by I. Holton
Very good.
...BUT...do not mistake the confused listing details on this item to mean you are buying a movie with Whoopi Goldberg in it! Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2008 by meg
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