Towelhead

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Towelhead

R,

2008,

2h 8m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

49%

111 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

49%

Tomatometer

111 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

At age 13, Jasira (Summer Bishil) lives with her mother, Gail (Maria Bello), in upstate New York, but is then sent to live with her rigid, emotionally distant Lebanese father, Rifat (Peter Macdissi), in Houston. Jasira, who is struggling with her emerging sexuality, finds herself subjected to the taunts of racist schoolmates, the sexual advances of her new boyfriend, Thomas (Eugene Jones), and the inappropriate yet titillating attentions of handsome, married neighbor Mr. Vuoso (Aaron Eckhart).

Critics Consensus

This 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.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Dec 17, 2008

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.

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Jonathan F. Richards

Film.com

Dec 11, 2008

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

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Oct 24, 2008

1.5/4

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.

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Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

Aug 15, 2011

Towelhead isn't a movie, it's a loaded gun.

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Aug 26, 2009

The discomfort zones of a young girl cry for sympathetic toughness, not Ball's snickering at pubic hair and clammy suburbanites

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Feb 9, 2009

3/4

A philosophy of the appeal of innocence and perversion in a repressed world...

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Hagrid W

Jul 21, 2017

Very, very odd film. The acting, while some of it, and at crucial times, extremely awkward and hammy, was overall competent especially by newcomer Summer Bishil who's VERY impressive as Jasira. But the demoralizing atrocities this 13 year old girl endured throughout the movie was beyond disturbing and over the top, bordering on exploitive. Some of the stuff Bishil had to do was just real uncomfortable to watch and I'm pretty openminded with any subject matter no matter how serious as long as it's handled in fairly respectful and good taste within the context of either a drama, comedy, or satire. This movie sets out to be all of these things and fails at every one. So it is ultimately is just an offensive and dull (not to mention boring) pretentious mess. Highly dissapointing directing debut by Alan Ball who scored much better as a screenwriter for American Beauty as well as HBO TV series Six Feet Under and later True Blood. The guy was clearly out of his depth here. At best a curious exercise of racismn, hippocracy, sexual exploration, and pedophilia in suburbia during the Iraq war. The movie is as confusingly tone deaf as it sounds. Oh and the egregiously rushed ending could not have been more pared down and contrived if were..well, honestly I don't know. This movie was something else. Brutal, whatever it is. Not recommended for anyone with even half a conscience. 1 and a half stars

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Luke L

Jul 14, 2017

Much of this movie I hated and some of it Liked, but it was always interesting.

George M

Mar 18, 2017

I think this is a very hard movie to watch if you did not read the book. It is such a disturbing story--teenage girl is sent to live with her strict father in Texas.

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Alan Ball

Director

Summer Bishil

Jasira

Aaron Eckhart

Mr. Vuoso

Peter Macdissi

Rifat

Toni Collette

Melina

Maria Bello

Gail

Adoration

64%

49%

Adoration

Watchlist

The Lucky Ones

38%

54%

The Lucky Ones

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The Nines

62%

61%

The Nines

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Margaret

75%

49%

Margaret

Watchlist

The Wackness

70%

72%

The Wackness

Watchlist

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Synopsis

At age 13, Jasira (Summer Bishil) lives with her mother, Gail (Maria Bello), in upstate New York, but is then sent to live with her rigid, emotionally distant Lebanese father, Rifat (Peter Macdissi), in Houston. Jasira, who is struggling with her emerging sexuality, finds herself subjected to the taunts of racist schoolmates, the sexual advances of her new boyfriend, Thomas (Eugene Jones), and the inappropriate yet titillating attentions of handsome, married neighbor Mr. Vuoso (Aaron Eckhart).

Director: Alan Ball
Producer: Ted Hope, Steven Rales, Alan Ball
Screenwriter: Alan Ball
Distributor: Warner Independent
Production Co: This Is That Productions, Your Face Goes Here Entertainment, Indian Paintbrush
Rating: R (Disturbing Sexual Content|Abuse Inv. A Young Teen|Involving Teen|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $371.4K
Runtime: 2h 8m

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