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Towelhead (film)
Encyclopedia
Towelhead is a 2007 black comedy
film written and directed by Alan Ball
and based on Alicia Erian
's novel of the same name. The film made its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 8, 2007 under the name Nothing is Private. The film, like the book, touches on issues of sexual awakening, privacy, and race.
, Towelhead tells the coming-of-age story of a 13-year-old Lebanese American girl named Jasira (Summer Bishil
). She first lives with her mother in Syracuse, New York
, but when her mother's live-in boyfriend helps Jasira shave her pubic hair
, her mother sends Jasira to live with her old-fashioned and domineering Lebanese father Rifat (Peter MacDissi
) in suburban Houston, Texas
. There, Jasira experiences a sexual awakening
, sparked in part by the adult magazines she finds when baby-sitting the next-door neighbor boy Zach Vuoso (Chase Ellison
).
Jasira is alienated
from her father: he is strict and does not allow her to use tampon
s; also he prefers spending time with his new girlfriend rather than with her. She has mixed feelings about Zach's father Mr. Vuoso (Aaron Eckhart
). She prefers her classmate Thomas Bradley (Eugene Jones
), who is sexually interested in her, but does not act without permission. She then goes on to be sexually active with him. Nevertheless she accepts when Mr. Vuoso, pretending he has to go to Iraq the next morning, asks to have sex with her.
A female neighbor, Melina (Toni Collette
), offers Jasira her house as a refuge
, and Jasira hides there when her father beats her upon finding out that she had an adult magazine, given to her by Vuoso. Eventually, she tells her father and the neighbors about having sex with Mr. Vuoso, and he is arrested for rape
.
reports that 48% of critics have given the film a positive review, based on 107 reviews, with an 5.3 out of 10 review average and the consensus that "[t]his story of politics, race and, sexual awakening has moments that pack a punch, but overall, Towelhead never quite achieves the nuance of helmer Alan Ball's television work." The film also holds a score of 57 on the review aggregator website Metacritic
.
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
film written and directed by Alan Ball
Alan Ball (screenwriter)
Alan E. Ball is an American writer, director, actor and producer for film, theatre and television.-Early life:Ball was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Frank and Mary Ball, an aircraft inspector and a homemaker...
and based on Alicia Erian
Alicia Erian
-Biography:Alicia Erian was born 1967 in Syracuse, New York to an Egyptian father and American mother of Polish descent. She received a B.A. in English from SUNY Binghamton and a M.F.A. in writing from Vermont College. A writer of short stories, some of her work has appeared in Zoetrope and the...
's novel of the same name. The film made its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 8, 2007 under the name Nothing is Private. The film, like the book, touches on issues of sexual awakening, privacy, and race.
Plot
Set in 1990 amidst the First Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, Towelhead tells the coming-of-age story of a 13-year-old Lebanese American girl named Jasira (Summer Bishil
Summer Bishil
Summer Yasmine Bishil is an American actress. She first came to prominence for her role as Jasira in the 2007 film Towelhead. She has been chosen to portray Azula in the sequel to M. Night Shyamalan's film The Last Airbender....
). She first lives with her mother in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, but when her mother's live-in boyfriend helps Jasira shave her pubic hair
Pubic hair
Pubic hair is hair in the frontal genital area, the crotch, and sometimes at the top of the inside of the legs; these areas form the pubic region....
, her mother sends Jasira to live with her old-fashioned and domineering Lebanese father Rifat (Peter MacDissi
Peter Macdissi
Peter Macdissi is an actor who was born in Beirut, Lebanon. His filmography consists mostly of television work, most notably playing long-time recurring character Olivier Castro-Staal on Alan Ball's hit HBO series Six Feet Under. In 2007 and in 2008, he was seen in Towelhead, a feature film which...
) in suburban Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. There, Jasira experiences a sexual awakening
Child sexuality
Child sexuality is the sexual feelings, behaviors, and development of children.-Freud:Until Sigmund Freud published his Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality in 1905, children were often regarded as asexual, having no sexuality until later development. Freud was one of the first researchers to...
, sparked in part by the adult magazines she finds when baby-sitting the next-door neighbor boy Zach Vuoso (Chase Ellison
Chase Ellison
Chase Ellison is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in Mysterious Skin and Tooth Fairy.-Life and career:...
).
Jasira is alienated
Alienation
Alienation may refer to:*Alienation , the legal transfer of title of ownership to another party*"Alienation", the medical term for splitting apart of the faculties of the mind...
from her father: he is strict and does not allow her to use tampon
Tampon
A tampon is a mass of cotton or rayon or a mixture of the two inserted into a body cavity or wound to absorb bodilyfluid. The most common type in daily use is designed to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation to absorb the flow of menstrual fluid...
s; also he prefers spending time with his new girlfriend rather than with her. She has mixed feelings about Zach's father Mr. Vuoso (Aaron Eckhart
Aaron Eckhart
Aaron Edward Eckhart is an American film and stage actor. Born in California, he moved to England at the age of 13, when his father relocated the family. Several years later, he began his acting career by performing in school plays, before moving to Sydney, Australia, for his high school senior year...
). She prefers her classmate Thomas Bradley (Eugene Jones
Eugene Jones III
Eugene Jones III is an African-American actor, poet, playwright and filmmaker. Since the age of 13, Jones has worked as an actor throughout New York City and is currently writing a one-man show....
), who is sexually interested in her, but does not act without permission. She then goes on to be sexually active with him. Nevertheless she accepts when Mr. Vuoso, pretending he has to go to Iraq the next morning, asks to have sex with her.
A female neighbor, Melina (Toni Collette
Toni Collette
Antonia "Toni" Collette is an Australian actress and musician, known for her acting work on stage, television and film as well as a secondary career as the lead singer of the band Toni Collette & the Finish....
), offers Jasira her house as a refuge
Women's shelter
A women's shelter is a place of temporary refuge and support for women escaping violent or abusive situations, such as rape, and domestic violence....
, and Jasira hides there when her father beats her upon finding out that she had an adult magazine, given to her by Vuoso. Eventually, she tells her father and the neighbors about having sex with Mr. Vuoso, and he is arrested for rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
.
Cast
- Aaron EckhartAaron EckhartAaron Edward Eckhart is an American film and stage actor. Born in California, he moved to England at the age of 13, when his father relocated the family. Several years later, he began his acting career by performing in school plays, before moving to Sydney, Australia, for his high school senior year...
as Travis Vuoso - Toni ColletteToni ColletteAntonia "Toni" Collette is an Australian actress and musician, known for her acting work on stage, television and film as well as a secondary career as the lead singer of the band Toni Collette & the Finish....
as Melina - Maria BelloMaria BelloMaria Elena Bello is an American actress and singer known for her appearances in the movies Coyote Ugly, The Jane Austen Book Club, Permanent Midnight, Thank You for Smoking, A History of Violence, Payback, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. For television she is known for her role as Dr...
as Gail Monahan - Peter MacdissiPeter MacdissiPeter Macdissi is an actor who was born in Beirut, Lebanon. His filmography consists mostly of television work, most notably playing long-time recurring character Olivier Castro-Staal on Alan Ball's hit HBO series Six Feet Under. In 2007 and in 2008, he was seen in Towelhead, a feature film which...
as Rifat Maroun - Summer BishilSummer BishilSummer Yasmine Bishil is an American actress. She first came to prominence for her role as Jasira in the 2007 film Towelhead. She has been chosen to portray Azula in the sequel to M. Night Shyamalan's film The Last Airbender....
as Jasira Maroun - Matt LetscherMatt LetscherMatthew Letscher is an American actor.-Biography:Letscher was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He attended college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity....
as Gil Hines - Chase EllisonChase EllisonChase Ellison is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in Mysterious Skin and Tooth Fairy.-Life and career:...
as Zack Vuoso - Carrie PrestonCarrie PrestonCarrie Preston is an American film and television actress, producer and director. Her husband is actor Michael Emerson, and her brother is actor John G. Preston.-Early life:...
as Mrs. Vuoso - Eugene JonesEugene Jones IIIEugene Jones III is an African-American actor, poet, playwright and filmmaker. Since the age of 13, Jones has worked as an actor throughout New York City and is currently writing a one-man show....
as Thomas Bradley - Lynn CollinsLynn CollinsViola Lynn Collins , better known as Lynn Collins, is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Kayla Silverfox in the live-action film X-Men Origins: Wolverine.-Life and career:...
as Thena - Shari HeadleyShari HeadleyShari Headley is an American actress. Headley made her acting debut on The Cosby Show in 1985. Since then her career has mostly focused on television acting; she is perhaps best known for portraying police officer Mimi Reed Frye Williams on the popular soap opera All My Children from May 1991 to...
as Mrs. Bradley - Irina VoroninaIrina VoroninaIrina Voronina is a Russian model and Playboy Playmate for January 2001.- Biography :...
as "Snow Queen" Centerfold - Randy Goodwin as Mr. Bradley
- Lorna Scott as French teacher
Critical reception
Towelhead received mixed reviews from critics; Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reports that 48% of critics have given the film a positive review, based on 107 reviews, with an 5.3 out of 10 review average and the consensus that "[t]his story of politics, race and, sexual awakening has moments that pack a punch, but overall, Towelhead never quite achieves the nuance of helmer Alan Ball's television work." The film also holds a score of 57 on the review aggregator website Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
.