In the middle of the desert, a solipsistic Japanese-American woman, along with her elderly and paralysed friend Barbara, runs the Desert Rose Cafe. Things liven up with the arrival of a mafia henchman (whose boss is hiding out at a nearby ranch), a battered Japanse man (who turns out to be a terrific chef, but who also triggers Barbara's memories of internment during WWII), and an attack on the mob boss' camp.
Acting
Nobu McCarthy carries every scene with wry, wounded dignity.
Writing
Harada's script braids mob tropes with internment legacy surprisingly deftly.
Production
Shot in actual Painted Desert — the landscape breathes.
Director
Masato Harada
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'TUFF Theatrical Edition' branding refers to a short-lived 90s distributor that mostly released direct-to-video action; this was their prestige grab.
McCarthy was a former Miss Tokyo who built a career playing complex Asian-American women in an era that rarely allowed them; this was her final major role before her death in 2002.
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