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Summer Bishil, Peter Macdissi, Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello ... see more see more... , Eugene Jones , Chase Ellison , Chris Messina , Gemmenne de la Peņa , Robert Baker , Eugene Jones III , Lynn Collins , Matt Letscher

Six Feet Under creator and American Beauty screenwriter Alan Ball makes his feature directorial debut with this screen adaptation of author Alicia Erian's controversial novel Towelhead. Jasira (Summer... read more read more... Bishil) is a 13-year-old Arab-American who's contending with the pains of adolescence when her life takes a sudden and unexpected turn. Sent to live with her stern Lebanese father, Rifat (Peter Macdissi), by her self-absorbed mother (Maria Bello), Jasira finds herself struggling to adjust to life in the suburbs while contending with racism and hypocrisy at every turn. Rifat lives in a modest, suburban Houston home next to racist reservist Mr. Vuoso (Aaron Eckhart) and meddling expectant mother Melina (Toni Collette). Adjusting to life in the suburbs isn't easy for young Jasira, though she tries her hardest to adapt to the unfamiliar environment by striking up casual conversations with her curious new neighbors. In the process, Jasira finds herself increasingly attracted to hormone-driven African-American teen Thomas (Eugene Jones). When Rifat finds out that his daughter's new boyfriend is black, he vehemently condemns the relationship. As America launches its initial invasion of Iraq, Jasira finds herself caught up in a potentially explosive situation that is only compounded by her raging hormones and the snooping of her pregnant, busybody neighbor. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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60% liked it

4,187 ratings

Critics

48% liked it

113 critics

R, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Alan Ball

Release Date: September 8, 2007

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DVD Release Date: December 30, 2008

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Stats: 947 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (947)

  • romy861
    August 29, 2009
    romy861
    Very dark for a comedy,(at least I assume it was intended to be a comedy). Kind of in some ways like a Todd Solondz film. Good but I think tied up a little too easily at the ends and the actual ending I didn't like too much and couldn't see why they chose to end the film there.... read more(Maybe it was meant to be hopeful, for me, I just found it off putting - not my favourite scene in any movie. LOL).
    The young girl who plays Jasira is very good as were the rest of the cast.
  • matertenebraum
    July 21, 2009
    matertenebraum
    How Can You Find Yourself if No One Can See You?

    Plot: A young Arab-American girl struggles with her sexual obsession, a bigoted Army reservist and her strict father during the Gulf War.

    I got really, really, but I mean, really lucky to catch this at the Deauville American Film... read more Festival. Can you imagine it? I flew all over to France to see Alan Ball's new movie. Well, I did it. Anyway, Nothing is Private (or Towelhead, as it is called now) is the new film written for the screen, produced and directed by Alan Ball and based upon the novel Towelhead by Alicia Erian. Some people say this movie is a porno and that is sick. But, I can, proudly, compare it with "American Beauty" (also one of my favourite movies, also). You can call me whatever you want and say that I'm nuts, but that's my point of view.

    The film is set on the year 1991 on the Gulf War. When I first read the novel I thought: Well, this doesn't looks like a book that no one will ever adapt to the cinema. But, when I saw the film I thought: Oh, my God! What a great adaptation of the book. And, besides, I really loved American Beauty. And it has beautiful and hauntingly dark screenplay, intelligent direction and superb performances. I mean, Summer Bishil's performance is one of the most unforgettable ones of the last decade. Some may find it offencive, but you have to have an open mind to watch this. The most sexually explicit and disturbing movie I've ever seen since Stanley Kubrick's 'Eyes Wide Shut'. I correct; since Bernardo Bertolucci's 'The Dreamers'. When you first watch this you feel like gut-punched. But, if you can get over the whole movie, and you have an open mind, you'll enjoy and love it. This is a true masterpiece. I believe that with the direction, with the screenplay and with the performances, this will get more than one Academy Award.

    Verdict: One of the most daring, talking on a mature sexual way, movies of the last 50 years. Stunningly satirical and darkly and shockingly disturbing. A sexist teenage satire on the style of 'Juno' and 'Ghost World'. A superb drama. Simply, a Great Movie. Quite disturbing, not recommended to people that doesn't have an open criterion.

    Nothing Is Private. Warner Independent Pictures. 2008. 116 min. UK: No Certificate. US: R. Written for the screen and directed by Alan Ball. Based upon the novel Towelhead by Alicia Erian. Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Peter Macdissi, Summer Bishil, Maria Bello and Toni Collette.
  • Stinger839
    March 19, 2009
    Stinger839
    Alan Ball writes (adapts) and directs.

    Powerful in capturing the awkward and tumultuous moments of sexual awakening and identity affirmation. Summer Bishil shines in the lead role of Jasira, and Aaron Eckhart is to be commended for taking on this controversial role.

    The cinema... read moretography of suburbia is great and the absurdity of its layout and American flags are exactly how these things exist in reality.

    I watch a lot of exploitation, so I'm not really shocked by any of the content here. I'm more surprised that it never elevates itself to say "Happiness" or Ball's own "Six Feet Under" levels but hovers in the realm of too serious about itself to be resounding.

    Overall, the movie is good but never elevates to greatness due to the flat nature of the supporting characters.
  • deano
    March 9, 2009
    deano
    This is bruising stuff and unrelentingly uncomfortable, with a good deal of the screen time devoted to a 13-year-old Lebanese-American Jasira being pawed, made to strip, lectured, harassed or raped. I felt sorry for her. The entertainment value is negligible to say the least, and... read more there's not the black-comic relief of American Beauty, nor any of its sense of liberation.
    The performances though are excellent, with Summer Bishil relistic and sympathetic, Aaron Eckhart skin crawling and Six Feet Under's Peter Macdissi brilliant as the prissy Lebanese patriarch. I was quite happy to see Aussie actress Toni Collette as heavily pregnant neighbourhood woman who takes it upon herself to look out for Jasira, I liked that at the end.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    February 7, 2009
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "How Can You Find Yourself if No One Can See You?"

    A young Arab-American girl struggles with her sexual obsession, a bigoted Army reservist and her strict father during the Gulf War.

    REVIEW
    Alan Ball steps on familiar yet virgin territory in more ways ... read morethan one.An American suburb with the look and feel of a populated desert. American flags and neighboring spirits. Summer Bishil surfs uncannily the waves of her puberty. Innocence and awareness. Curiosity, excitement and fear. She has extraordinary moments as her father played by a superb Peter MacDissi marks and signs his territory with ancestral laws and American longings. A terrifying living contradiction. This time bomb of a man is the most realistic caricature I've ever seen. Played for real with frightening earnestness. There is also Aaron Eckhart who proves, once more, he's one of the most fearless actors around, his performance is as brilliant as it is uncomfortable to watch. I recommend it if you're in the mood for a couple of hours of gasps and nervous laughter.
  • puffchunk
    January 22, 2009
    puffchunk
    I have a soft spot for Aaron Eckhart. Unfortunately he plays a creepy Texan who molests a 13 year old...slightly less charming than his usual stuff. I have nothing bad to say about the movie, but not much to rant about either.
  • LitelBluHli
    September 30, 2008
    LitelBluHli
    Good movie. Not for everyone...
  • gator681
    October 7, 2009
    gator681
    In "Towelhead," it is 1990 and 13-year old Jasira(Summer Bishil), is sent to live with her father (Peter Macdissi), who works for NASA, in Houston, after a bewildering incident with her mother's(Maria Bello, overacting for once) boyfriend Barry(Chris Messina) and a razor.(Don't a... read moresk. You just have to know that any character named Barry is going to turn out to be at least a little sleazy.) It is there that Jasira winds up being abused by two men. First, it is physically by her father who hits her, monitors her every move and does not allow her to wear a tampon, despite menstruating. Alternatively, he is out of the house for long periods of time with his girlfriend Thena(Lynn Collins). That leaves the door open for their neighbor Travis(Aaron Eckhart), an army reservist.

    "Towelhead" is a provocative movie with a great cast. If you take away the explicit material(not graphic and nothing is shown, but it is clear what is going on and that is disturbing enough), all you are left with is a movie of the week with a message about the sexual and body images girls are forced to confront as they are growing up. At the same time, the movie attempts to make the viewer complicit in the crimes of its characters. And it goes without saying that anyone who thinks of a 13-year old girl in a sexual way is a sick and twisted person. Outside of that, the charactizerations are paper thin. Jasira's Lebanese heritage is hinted at in a letter to her grandmother but that is quickly forgotten. Her father identifies as Christian and does not live in a traditional manner, despite hypocritically forcing that on his daughter and no other mention of religion is made.(His actions are convenientaly chalked up to ignorance.) He is also in favor of the war and wants Saddam Hussein captured(be careful what you wish for, you might just get it), so as not to court racism. But there is none of the bloodlust and hyperpatriotism that I remember from the First Gulf War, just the racism and name calling which are perpetual. There just has to be more in the way of period detail then Ed O'Neill starring in a sitcom.
  • fb720603734
    July 30, 2008
    fb720603734
    I had heard some pretty bad buzz, but was pleasantly surprised by the audacity of this film. Explores a young teen's sexuality in frank and disturbing ways, never shying away from real feelings. It's a bit of a jumbled mess, but a truly original, surprising filmgoing experience.
  • staindslaved
    March 17, 2012
    staindslaved
    Towelhead is an incredibly emotional and relevant film that was inexplicably overlooked by audiences and bashed by critics. Summer Bishill was incredible as an Arabic adolesent dealing with culture class and womanhood living in suburban America. The film portrays racism, from p... read moreretty much every possible perspective, and other cultural hot-topics of our time. A completely uncomfortable (in a good way) film to watch that is also an odd indie coming of age tale. With its subject matter, fine performances and great direction from the creator of Six Feet Under, this should have been one of the most buzzed about films from 2008. I'm at a complete loss as to what happened, or rather didn't happen.

View All Towelhead Reviews

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones
December 17, 2008
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

As a director [Ball] amplifies the flaws in his own writing; his supporting characters are too broadly pitched to take seriously, and he tends to smack you in the face with the point of every scene. Full Review

Jonathan F. Richards
December 11, 2008
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com

There is hardly a scene that does not produce exquisite discomfort and a strong desire to be somewhere else. Full Review

Ben Lyons
November 5, 2008
Ben Lyons, At the Movies

It wasn't enjoyable at any level. Full Review

Ben Mankiewicz
November 5, 2008
Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies

This movie will challenge you on a number of levels, including some beliefs you'd never thought you'd question. Full Review

Peter Howell
October 24, 2008
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

It is certainly possible to make a transgressive movie about children in sexual jeopardy, and to do so in ways that realistically and intelligently depict the abuse while not revelling in it. Full Review

Tasha Robinson
October 18, 2008
Tasha Robinson, Chicago Tribune

It's impossible to look away. Full Review

Gary Goldstein
October 18, 2008
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times

Summer Bishil turns in a gutsy, quietly riveting performance as Jasira. Full Review

Christy Lemire
September 26, 2008
Christy Lemire, Globe and Mail

The performances make the material more human and accessible, mainly from the film's brave young star, Summer Bishil. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
September 25, 2008
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

It's too much, too heavy-handed. Disturbing is one thing. Prurient is another. Full Review

Roger Moore
September 24, 2008
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

The most deeply disturbing, downright discomfiting movie about teen sexuality since Thirteen. Full Review

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