Review of Towelhead (2008) by Colin G — 09 Oct 2008

To say this film can be uncomfortable and downright disturbing at times is an understatement. It deals with a young 13 year old named Jasira, whose parents are both too self-centered to really focus on what she wants and as a result, she begins looking elsewhere. It's a film that deals with very dark issues; one of the main characters in the film begins as a nice guy, but soon develops into a pedophile when his interest in Jasira becomes more than just neighbourly.

It's a very confronting film, but does contain some dark humour. It's also an interesting exploration of the life of a young girl who is pretty much left to her own devices and it's only by the intervention of two neighbours, one of whom portrayed by Toni Collette, that she begins to receive the love and attention she's been craving and also begins to realise that what her neighbour has been doing to her was wrong.

Definitely not a film for those with weak stomachs when it comes to graphic scenes of a sexual nature, but it is very well written and performed and I'm glad I went and saw it.