Too whimsical for mainstream audiences - it failed in America and went straight to video over here, this is an offbeat romance centred on a mysterious fire that razes a neighbourhood bakery to the ground.

Various people confess to starting the fire, seemingly to protect other people whom they think might be accused.

Meanwhile on the romantic front arsonist William Baldwin makes a play for sexy tomboy Sadie Frost, while his girlfriend Erika Eleniak makes a move on bakery boy John Leguizamo: naturally Leguizamo and Frost are already involved with each other.

Feisty, sometimes unsettling performances from the principals, plus excellent support from Joan Plowright, Armin Mueller-Stahl (as the baker suspected of torching his own premises) and Michael Lerner boost the tale of burning passion but somehow its plot never quite catches fire.

Veteran TV director Joshua Brand, of Northern Exposure fame, hasn't tried again since.