Review of Towelhead (2008) by Vita L — 14 Jan 2009

TOWELHEAD falls into that category of flawed yet unforgettable. Usually I am asleep by 11pm every night (against my will) but once TOWELHEAD started I was hooked until end credits.

The good thing about Alan Balls movie is he tackles, head-on (ha ha ha) a very honest story about a little girl caught between childhood and womanhood. We have all experienced it, its awkward and lots of things happen that we dont tell anyone because deep down inside, we still think we are freakazoids. For instance, in 5th grade, I looked at the pornographic Polaroid in the dumpster of the St. Bernards playground. And I went back for it and stared at it some more. Everyone told me I was sick, demented, la la la- but who was looking over my shoulder? *Please note: that was an incredibly tame story from the other things I did as a child.

Children challenge each other, but in TOWELHEAD they cant help but be genuine. They havent yet mastered the manipulation exercised by the grown-ups around them.

The problem with adults, in this story and about the real world, is they confuse curiosity with perversion. Without facilitating any kind of conversation with their daughter, both parents kind of bully our protagonist into life lessons. They are like the battered, metal rails on the side of the freeway- if Jasira strays too noticeably far off the path, they try to slam her back on the road. Not a great way to raise a young woman, but both parents are far too involved in themselves to really notice the tough decisions she is faced with every day after school.

The young actress played by then 20 yr-old Summer Bishil is a little stiff, but she is able to channel those sweet smiles innocent enough on a flat-chested child but far too beguiling for grown men to cope with on a budding adolescent. Its just so confusing for them, poor things.

Jasira is growing up faster than she feels mentally equipped with and no one is ushering her into womanhood. She is also incredibly beautiful. So she is tortured by her peers and flirts with her next door neighbor, who in turn, works very hard to prolong moments alone with her.

In the end, not to ruin this little gem of a concept, Jasira is confused herself between sexual curiosity and allowing herself to become a victim. Of course, she is a child and is dealing with adult situations most of us dont learn how to handle until our late 20s. The movie frays for me at the end, the mild climax comes with an ending that is a little too satisfying.

Toni Collete plays a sympathetic neighbor who is smart enough to intervene and talk with Jasira as best she can. She is the only decent human being over the age of 16 in the entire story. It bothers me that she and her suburban house are so perfectly placed in the story to look after and protect Jasira, maybe because most of us were not so lucky.

Its less about race and more about being a girl, in my opinion.

Definitely in my top 15 of the year so far though disturbing enough to keep me awake into the night . . . stewing.