Towelhead
Racism and abuse sabotage teen's sexual awakening.
Towelhead
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this disturbing movie is highly controversial by intent. The film's trailer sells it as a contemporary satire about an ethnically mixed culture, but the only humor comes from viewers' shock at seeing characters portrayed as ridiculously obtuse, cruel, and unaware. There are many scenes of intense psychological and sexual abuse. The victim is a 13-year-old girl who's dealing with her own budding sexual urges; throughout the film, she's at the mercy of predatory adults, dysfunctional parents, and race-baiting teens and kids. Scenes of masturbation, statutory rape, intercourse, and bare-breasted fantasies alternate with scenes of racial name-calling, dishonesty, jealousy, and heartlessness. In other words? Not for kids.
Community Reviews
This could teach your children to speak UP!
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Great movie but very strong - Hard to stomach!
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What's the Story?
When 13-year-old Lebanese-American Jasira (Summer Bishil) threatens her insecure mother's relationship with a live-in boyfriend, the young teen is sent to live with her father, Rifat (Peter Macdissi), in an arid, charmless community in Texas. The self-absorbed Rifat hasn't a clue about parenting and relates to his daughter only as a misguided, short-tempered authority figure. In her desperate need for a loving, nurturing relationship, Jasira falls prey to the seductive advances of Mr. Vuoso (Aaron Eckhart), a military man who lives a few houses away; to the hormone-driven magnetism of Thomas (Eugene Jones III), an African-American classmate; and to the anti-Arab sentiment everywhere around her. Only the arrival of Melina (Toni Collette) in the house next door offers Jasira a safe harbor and the hope of a better life.
Is It Any Good?
TOWELHEAD is very hard to watch. The fact that it's being touted as a "comedy" is misleading at the very least. The only laughs come when the audience reacts to the depths of cruelty, selfishness, and insensitivity on display. Even "black" comedy shouldn't be this bleak. When not laughing at the characters' witless behavior, viewers will gasp at their brutality, ugliness, and insensitivity. These are damaged people, stunted emotionally, blaming others, and wreaking havoc on the next generation.
If the intention of writer-director Alan Ball is to "shock" and "awe" audiences on his way to revealing that even the most vulnerable among us can survive nearly anything, he's partially successful. The performances are stellar, with all the actors making an effort to show the humanity beneath the horrific behavior. Unfortunately, the end product is just inescapably grim and relentless.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what the movie says about victims of racial prejudice taking out their frustration on other ethnic groups. What other messages does the movie send? Do you think a movie that's controversial for controversy's sake can be effective? Families can also discuss Jasira's journey as an example of survival under horrific circumstances. Do you think she'll ever be able to overcome the life she's been handed? What clues does the filmmaker give to help you find the answer to that question? How does the movie show that having one good person on your side can make a difference?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 10, 2008
- On DVD or streaming: December 29, 2008
- Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Peter Macdissi, Summer Bishil, Toni Collette
- Director: Alan Ball
- Studio: Warner Independent
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 124 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong disturbing sexual content and abuse involving a young teen, and for language.
- Last updated: February 27, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
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American Beauty
Powerful acting, great story, but far too mature for kids.
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