Bagdad Cafe

1988

Bagdad Cafe

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Bagdad Cafe Photos

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Movie Info

After breaking down in the middle of the California desert, a German couple begin to argue, and the wife walks. She ends up at a flea-bitten truck stop that is the second home to a group of odd characters, and she begins to transform their lives.

Rating:

PG (adult situations/language, nudity)
Genre:

Art House & International, Comedy, Drama
Directed By:

Percy Adlon
Written By:

Eleonore Adlon, Percy Adlon, Christopher Doherty
In Theaters:

Apr 29, 1988 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Jul 24, 2001
Runtime:

91 minutes
Studio:

Virgin Vision

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Cast

Marianne Sägebrecht
as Jasmin Münchgstettner

CCH Pounder
as Brenda

Jack Palance
as Rudi Cox

Christine Kaufmann
as Debby

Monica Calhoun
as Phyllis

Darron Flagg
as Salomo

George Aquilar
as Cahuenga

George Aguilar
as Cahuenga

G. Smokey Campbell
as Sal

Hans Stadlbauer
as Münchgstettner

Apesanahkwat
as Sheriff Arnie

Alan S. Craig
as Eric

Ronald Lee Jarvis
as Trucker Ron

Ray Young
as Trucker Ray

Mark Daneri
as Trucker Mark

Raymond Young
as Trucker Ray

Gary Lee Davis
as Trucker Gary

Baby Ashley
as Herself

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Critic Reviews for Bagdad Cafe

All Critics (19) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (2)

Unfortunately, the film's curious conceits remain implausible even on a fantasy level, and most of the satirical possibilities are either sidestepped or fumbled.

Feb 8, 2010 | Full Review…

Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
Top Critic
Bagdad Café is an uplifting and distinctly humane culture-clash comedy which will thaw the coldest heart.

Oct 30, 2018 | Full Review…

Rob Aldam
Backseat Mafia
The theme song really is inescapable...strange things happen in a charmingly-plotless way.

Aug 31, 2018 | Full Review…

Lisa Nesselson
France24
Just as the main character slowly grows on people in the film, it can draw in reluctant viewers.

May 16, 2013 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…

James Plath
Movie Metropolis
Percy Adlon's first English-speaking film is a charming fable about the friendhsip between two vastly different women.

Jan 13, 2011 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
This 20-year-old film reminds us of a time before independent movies became the formulaic fare they often are these days.

Feb 14, 2007 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
An exotic celebration of the beauty of human personality and friendship.

Aug 28, 2004 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

View All Critic Reviews (19)

Audience Reviews for Bagdad Cafe

Feb 24, 2013

This enjoyable fable is expertly edited and knows how to use a surreal cinematography to enhance the sense of oddness created by its rather unusual story. But it also doesn't know how to end and simply drifts without any clear direction in the last fifteen minutes.

Carlos M Super Reviewer
Jan 13, 2009

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

Randy T Super Reviewer
Nov 15, 2007

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

Anastasia B Super Reviewer
Jul 14, 2007

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! ;)

Donna D Super Reviewer