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Towelhead (2007)
"Nothing Is Private" (original title)

 -  Drama  -  26 September 2008 (USA)
7.0
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Ratings: 7.0/10 from 9,071 users   Metascore: 57/100
Reviews: 59 user | 110 critic | 31 from Metacritic.com

A young Arab-American girl struggles with her sexual obsession, a bigoted Army reservist and her strict father during the Gulf War.

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(written for the screen by), (novel)
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Title: Towelhead (2007)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Rifat Maroun (as Peter MacDissi)
Gemmenne de la Peña ...
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School Photographer
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Sales Clerk
Michael McShae ...
Middle School Jerk
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Middle School Jerk
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Janitor
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Storyline

Against the backdrop of the first Gulf War, Jasira Maroun is 13, physically well developed but naïve and unable to say no. As puberty arrives, her mother sends her from Syracuse to Houston to her curt, up-tight, Lebanese-born father. Over the next few months, Jasira must navigate her father's strict indifference, her discovery of sexual pleasure, the casual racism of a neighbor boy and her classmates, the sexual advances of the boy's father, the proffered friendship of a pregnant neighbor, and her attraction to Thomas, an African-American classmate whom her father forbids her to see. Things happen to her, but can she take responsibility and control, or is tragedy inevitable? Written by <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

neighbor | boy | girl | gulf war | racial slur | See more »

Taglines:

How can you find yourself if no one can see you? See more »

Genres:

Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong disturbing sexual content and abuse involving a young teen, and for language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

| | |

Release Date:

26 September 2008 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Towelhead  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$52,823 (USA) (12 September 2008)

Gross:

$371,446 (USA) (17 October 2008)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

(DVD)

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Actress Summer Bishil turned 18 before filming started, allowing her to play the 13 year old, sexually overactive Jasira without any restrictions as to what she could do or show in the movie. See more »

Goofs

When Jasira is talking to her mother on the payphone when her father has locked her out, there is a "We Card" sticker visible in the convenience store window. The "We Card" tobacco program was not started until 1995, several years after the movie takes place. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Barry: You're beautiful just the way you are, Jasira. Those other girls are just jealous because you're growing up faster than they are. And you're prettier than they are. Listen, don't let it get you down. Stupid names they're calling you. This year - just gimme a second
[wets the razor]
Barry: this year, your gonna shut them up. Only, probably you shouldn't tell your mom about this.
See more »

Connections

Features Married with Children (1987) See more »

Soundtracks

Carol of the Bells
Written by Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych (as Mykola Leontovich) & Peter Wilhousky (as Peter J Wilhousky)
Performed by Carl Fischer Chorale
Courtesy of Carl Fischer, LLC
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Didacticism is alive and well and living in Hollywood
12 October 2008 | by (Canberra, Australia) – See all my reviews

I was fortunate to view this movie in a cinema in the same weekend as I saw a stage performance of Moliere's "The Learned Ladies" and a DVD of "Memoirs of a Geisha". All three deal with the reaction of girls on the brink of womanhood who react in different ways to the pressures society has placed on them. Moliere was a favorite of Louis XIV in 1670, and his treatment of these pressures is remarkably pertinent to out own times. His play is instructive, as is "Towelhead". By drawing attention to the girls' problems, these dramas are warning us of the way society is treating young women. They are victims. Moliere uses farce and poetry, "Towelhead" uses conflict and some wry humor. The Geisha endures a life of conflict with no comic relief. All three shows produce the same message: don't let this happen to you. "Towelhead" is reputed to be autobiographical, and "Geisha" would appear to be so.

"Towelhead" is distinguished by some clever cinematography, let down perhaps by some careless editing. Nevertheless, the actors' performances are excellent, with most of the cast in roles that reveal them as childish. The drama unfolds not by having them grow up, but by having the protagonist mature and become decisive, just as did Moliere's girl did. There is an outstanding performance by Toni Collette as the pregnant neighbor who plays an important part in the youngster's maturing.


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One of the most horrifying scenes I've watched fieldsofbarley
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