Out of Rosenheim

I sat down and watched this in a rather distressed state having had a trying day. After a few minutes into the film my mood changed as I became immersed into this strange tale of a harassed owner of a cafe in the middle of nowhere and a tourist from Germany. The owner of the cafe brilliantly played by CCH Pounder is just as bemused as we are why this German tourist delightfully played by Marianne Sagebrecht wants to stay at her cafe. This is a wonderfully unpredictable film never going where most films would go. It's utterly charming and I only got distressed again when I realised it was about to end! (9/10)

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 make their home.

A plump German housewife (a joyous Marianne Sagebrecht) is dumped at the roadside by her husband after they row. She makes it to the diner, cases in tow, where the argument has been all about the broken down coffee machine. "You want a room? HERE!!?" enquires boss Brenda (CCH Pounder). The camera shows odd angles and takes on things, rather like Oliver Stone's might do.

Jack Palance, radiating comic charm is the resident just beyond-middle age hippie and he takes a shine to the Frau Jasmin. His performance is as memorable as his Oscar winning one in City Slickers. Anyways, the bustling restless Jasmin has her ways of thinking and those ways don't always meet that of Brenda. Her first task is to do the much needed vacuuming in a pea-green walled room that she's paid $25 to stay in. It's the sight of Jasmin's unpacked lederhosen that causes Brenda to call out the local sheriff.

In a charming, heart-warming tale, full of human colour, is a film that can be enjoyed time and again (I'm on my third view) and one that is offbeat enough to be interesting but always stays the side of going too far. An unknown and enjoyable gem.

This is a love story. And in this film magical love comes to the Bagdad Cafe in the form of Jasmin, who brings meaning and purpose to the lives of the small group of people who surround her: the painter who begins to paint again and falls in love; Brenda, the harried, frustrated owner of the cafe who finds friendship, comfort and support; Brenda's children, who also benefit from Jasmin's caring and compassion. The use of the boomerang was interesting: a metaphor for what you give, you get back, and the joy of giving and receiving. The magic of Love will appear anywhere -even in the middle of the desert- as long as you have an open heart and mind.

'Out of Rosenheim' (aka 'Bagdad Cafe') is a simply executed film. There are no lavish sets, no heavy special effects and the story is just as simple. But the experience of watching this movie is magical. The film takes place in an isolated motel in desert-like Bagdad (not Iraq's capital city) in California. A young mother (and grandmother) struggles to run her motel and keep her family together. Enter an enigmatic German lady into the motel and there is magic in everyone's life.

In a way 'Out of Rosenheim' can be described as a mood piece. The visuals are beautiful, very detailed and symbolic. The colourful characters are very likable. The enigmatic song 'Calling to You' appears every now and then as though Jasmine receives her calling. The background score is just as effective. Adlon makes good use of light and climate. How the heat seemingly irritates the characters in the beginning but gradually as the characters get accustomed or as 'life gets better' the heat is no bother.

Yet, 'Out of Rosenheim' is not just a mood piece. There is a solid story but it's not easy to describe what it's about. At the centre of it lies the friendship between Jasmine and Brenda. However there is just so much more going on. Both ladies are coping with their daily lives. Jasmine finally takes some measure and, consequently comes to Bagdad where she meets all these strange characters and as a friendliness develops, she brings colour not only into their lives but also her own. Adlon beautifully unfolds the mystery of her character by revealing that she's a magician at heart. There are so many beautiful and endearing scenes but it all feels genuine and authentic rather than syrupy. In a way, the film reminded me of the classic 'Mary Poppins' and the unique and subtle presentation of 'Out Of Rosenheim' makes it more real (in contrast to the fairy tale of 'Mary Poppins').

Just like everything else, the acting is great. Marianne Sägebrecht and CCH Pounder clearly own the movie. Sägebrecht unfolds her character's layers with skill and ease. She brings a gentleness and calmness to Jasmine that excellently contrasts Pounder's Brenda. Likewise, Pounder too demonstrates her talent as the chaotic and verbally aggressive mother who's trying to keep it together. The rest of the cast perform well.

Overall, 'Out of Rosenheim' is a cinematic treat. I would love to visit this film over and over again to see if I missed anything because of the detail but also the heartfelt story and characters warrant an invitation to watch again.

A wonderful, funny, odd, and unique film.

Strong acting all around (Jack Palance is amazing). Inventive use of distorted colors and changing camera speeds. A few moments get a bit precious, but generally one of the best uses I've seen of a slightly surreal style to tell a very touching, human story - an overweight, depressed Bavarian housewife is left stranded in the southwest desert by her husband, and slowly finds herself, and a home among the odd characters who live and work at the Bagdad Cafe.

This is a case where brave film-making enhances rather than distracts from emotional involvement. The basic theme (we're all weird, and we all need somewhere to fit in) is nothing new, but the approach here makes it delightful and fresh.

The original 15 minute longer 'director's cut' available on European DVDs does add some nice details, moments and filling out of characters. The film works fine in its shorter US version, and the Italian DVD of the director's cut I got was frustrating in that it had a a weaker visual transfer than the US DVD, and there were Italian subtitles you couldn't turn off, but I was glad to see it, and overall it's an even stronger film with the original material added back in.