A Little Magic in the Middle of the Desert
Bagdad Cafe is an oasis in the desert. That is if you like your oasis’s in the mold of run down gas stations/cafes/motels where it’s tough to find a real cup of joe. What you will find it stocked with is a ready band of eccentric characters willing to make you not only forget the desolate surroundings but even appreciate it.
One of those characters is a German tourist named Jasmin (Marianne Sgebrecht). She had ambled away from her husband in the middle of the Mojave and found refuge at the Bagdad. Initially there was a bit of friction with Brenda (CCH Pounder) who runs the Bagdad Gas and Oil Cafe. But gradually Brenda begins to appreciate her.
In fact, Jasmin’s exotic spirit infuses magic into the dusty lifeless Bagdad both literally and figuratively. She begins to perform magic that brings in truckers from miles around and she forms solid relationships with the Bagdad regulars including a laid back artist played by Jack Palance.
What is spiritual about this movie? Jasmin was fearless. She was like an alien on another planet who in short order not only learned to blend in and live with the inhabitants but became indispensable to them. In a sense she became the heart and soul of Bagdad. Her easy manner of bonding with others may cause you to reflect about the friendships in your life. Is there a group of people who consider you indispensable? If not, what might you do to create one?
