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TOWELHEAD Send This Review to a Friend
Teenage sexuality juxtaposed with a repressive upbringing according to religious and cultural tradition is the explosive mix that makes “Towelhead” compelling and thought-provoking. As the title indicates, problems of discrimination exist for a Lebanese-American teen who is looked upon as different by her classmates, yet has all of the desires of many a girl her age. Summer Bishil is captivating in her role as Jasira, who goes from living with her mother in Syracuse to staying with her stern father in Houston.
Jasira’s parents are divorced, and her father, Rifat, played with appropriate intensity by Peter Macdissi, is a stickler for old values. He is deeply upset at the sexual interest Jasira displays, and he is nasty in his crackdown on her. Jasira is obsessed with pictures of sexy women that she sees in magazines as she explores her sexual stirrings. She also becomes attracted to a sympathetic black student, which enrages her dad.
Writer-director Alan Ball, basing his film on a novel by Alicia Erian, focuses on Jasira’s vulnerability, especially when she comes in contact with an irresponsible older neighbor who is turned on by the 13-year-old. The film becomes melodramatic as a result of a nasty turn of events, but the situation is explored maturely and the overall result is upsetting.
There is an underlying satirical edge stemming from the treatment of Jasira’s horniness and the exploitation she faces, but basically, “Towelhead” is rich in its portrait of the clash of values and human behavior. Bishil is mesmerizing in her portrayal of Jasira, and other compelling performances are contributed by Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Chris Messina, Eugene Jones and Maria Bello. A Warner Independent Pictures release.
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