Films Outside the Loop Jeanne Chappé

There are very few films that I consider perfect. This is one of them. The film takes place in the middle of the Mojave desert at a neglected motel and cafe. You can feel the desolation, smell the hot wind and taste the dust. This is a place where all hope has died. It is one of those places that you see from the corner of your eye...as you fly past them in an air-conditioned car.

Into this scenario walks a German woman who has been dumped on the highway by her abusive husband. Her name is Jasmin (pronounced 'Yasmine' like the 'Bleeth'). Jasmin is played by Marianne Sagebrecht who is very much at ease in the shape of her container. Inadvertantly, Jasmin ended up with her husband's suitcase which contains (of course) men's clothes AND a magic kit. She then meets the odd (I am avoiding the word dysfunctional) characters who inhabit this small world.

Brenda is the owner (and totalitarian BOSS) of the motel and cafe. She is played by CCH Pounder carrying quite a few less pounds. She has a slut for a daughter and a son whose mind is totally consumed by classical music. Rudi (played beautifully by Jack Palance) is an ex-set painter from Hollywood who lives in a tiny Airstream trailer nearby. Another resident is Debby (Christine Kaufmann) who is a morose tattoo artist (and possibly hooker).

There is the difference in cultures...with both Brenda and Jasmin suspicious of one another. There is also a very clean, mysterious, bright yellow coffee thermos, a rifle with a hair-trigger, a boomerang, an incredible rainbow and some pink flamingos (for color). Above all, there is a whole lot of magic!

The same haunting song floats in and out through the entire film. Watching this film is like stepping into a place outside of time (right off the side of the highway).

Runtime: 1:31

This film is available on DVD, VHS, cable or satellite.

---

This column is dedicated to those films that most of the world missed!

Back to Jeanne Chappé's Films Outside the Loop

Copyright © 1998, 2007 Jeanne Chappé, all rights reserved This material may not be republished, rebroadcast or redistributed in any manner