Review of Towelhead (2008) by Eddy M — 20 Sep 2013

Rarely have I had the opportunity to be so offended and insulted as a viewer in 5 minutes or less than I was on watching this film. Before the credits even have a chance to roll, I'm watching a grown man help a pubescent girl shave her vulva. This man's wife finds out, and it is made clear that her reaction is an 'over-reaction' (because father figures should TOTALLY be allowed near the vaginas of blossoming women) and this too-white (blonde, blue-eyed) mother figure is immediately painted an evil witch for wanting to get an impressionable girl away from a perverted spouse by (GASP!) sending the girl to live with her biological (read: Lebanese) father. This 'father' embodies every Middle Eastern stereotype at first glance, then cements it by slapping his daughter for having the audacity to wear a (non-revealing) V-neck shirt.

I am not the least bit ashamed to say I stopped the film right there (running time 5:07) and popped it right back in its Netflix sleeve. I understand that some films are tongue-in-cheek, but there is a fine line. A line which this film doesn't even acknowledge, much less bothers to tow.

Considering Hollywood loves to pronounce itself the Mecca of social, humanitarian, religious and cultural tolerance, I'm surprised every single copy of this film hasn't been burned in effigy. Then again, considering Hollywood is full of its own bullshit, maybe I'm not that surprised after all.