Review of Towelhead (2008) by Joel M — 16 Apr 2009

Make sure that you wear your warning towel when you experience the controversial indie film "Towelhead" because it will dry some of your society "ass"essments. The film stars Summer Bishil as Jashira Maroun, a Lebanese-American 13 year-old teenager who experiences a sexual awakening.

She lives with her strict Lebanese father Rifat, played by Peter Macdissi. Let's just say that Rifat is not the kind of dad a young girl would like to win as a paternal ownership prize in a "rifa", but nevertheless Rifat does care for Jashira tremendously even through his authoritative, manipulative ways.

Jashira's mom Gail (Maria Bello) used to be the primary caretaker of Jashira until she caught her boyfriend shaving Jashira's vaginal hairs un-toweled. So therefore, Jashira was sent to live with her daddy Rifat.

Aaron Eckhart portrays Travis Vuoso, a reserved armed forces veteran who wants to sexually "avousar" on Jashira. Yes, Ouch! Jashira gets a part-time gig babysitting Travis' bully son Zack but who Travis really wants to babysit isâ?¦ (well you get the pedophilistic picture).

Jashira is a victim of harassment from her classmates because of her Lebanese ethnicity. However, her school situation does improve when she befriends and falls for a young black classmate Thomas against her racist father's wishes.

Toni Collete plays Melina Hines, a caring unpedophile (which is always a good thing) neighbor who is married and pregnant. Melina is suspicious of Vuoso's clandestine motives for Jashira and eventually Melina becomes the top protective neighbor of the block.

Writer-Director Alan Ball does wrap up "Towelhead" with an optimistic ending even though most of the film does mainly incorporate the aforementioned racial and pedophile themes. Some of Ball's societal messages are not one to have a ball with but they are thought and discussion provoking; even though Ball loses his marbles by going overboard with the pedophile aspect of the film, that enough made me want to throw in the towel somewhere along "Towelhead".

However, as uncomfortable as it was, it does bring a heightened awareness on the distorted psyches of people we perceive to be of clear sanity. Bishil's breakthrough performance was reserved but with authentic emotional ingenuity.

Maybe Summer's acting did not have me a blast, but I do not foresee to many unemployed cruel summers for Summer in her promising future. However, the grittiest and most courageous performance of the film was that of Eckhart's; uncomfortable to watch but comfortable to acknowledge.

Even though the thesis of "Towelhead" can bring out some terrible towels in your reactions, I do still give it a borderline recommendation to open and fold your head onto. *** Average.