Out of Rosenheim (1987)

Second viewing; first seen on April 30, 1994.

U.S. title (and also of the copy I've seen): Bagdad Cafe

A very fat German woman leaves her husband while they are vacationing in America. They happen to be in the middle of the Mojave desert at the moment. Seeking a place to stay, she finds a nearby Cafe and Motel the owner of which is a permanently furious black woman. The owner's initial reaction towards the new guest is one of bewilderment and irritation, but this German has a way of growing on people.

Bittersweet comedy. The film may be understood as a defense of tolerance, and it is interesting to point out the intrinsic contradictions involved in such a discourse. There is always a narrative 'scapegoat', someone towards whom intolerance must be directed, in order that islands of tolerance may be built. In this particular instance, males are the target of that intolerance, and when that happens they are actually intolerable as devised by the filmmakers, so that no fault falls on the female characters. This film was a big success in Brazil upon its release, one of those cases where the sole responsible for that was the film itself, instead of advertising and other extraneous factors. The film's aesthetical appeal has probably  greatly contributed to the film's success; images seem to have a precedency over words, and plot is next to non-existing; the theme song and soundtrack are also key to the creation of mood. It's also a timely film, even more so today when intolerance against whites is reaching intolerable proportions; and it offers a 'magic white' as a complement, if not an antidote, to the current 'magic negro' stereotype.

Rating: 69 (unchanged)