TOWELHEAD

US, 2007, 124 minutes, Colour.
Summer Bishil, Peter Macdissi, Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello.
Directed by Alan Ball.

Towelhead is based on a novel by Alicia Erian. The film was released initially with the title Nothing is Private (which relates to the experiences of the teenage girl, Jasira, Summer Bishil, at the centre of the film). However, the producers decided to return to the title of the novel, Towel Head, despite its controversial use in the US and in Iraq and the Middle East, a derogatory term. However, this heightens the aspects of racism and prejudice that are dramatised in the film.

Summer Bishil is very effective as the precocious, sometimes naïve, sometimes too knowing young woman whose father is a Lebanese Christian and whose mother is a white American (Peter Macdissi and Maria Bello). The mother is a carefree woman, though disciplinary with her daughter. The daughter goes to live with her father, experiencing his traditional strictness, especially about the place of women, about sexuality and modesty, though he himself becomes involved with a co-worker.

The film focuses on the experiences of the young girl, her awakening to sexuality, her curiosity, her indulgence. This gets her into a great number of difficulties, especially with the husband of the family next door (Aaron Eckhart) who crosses boundaries in his sexual relationships with her. The film highlights the willingness of the young girl in the relationship, yet her ignorance and age, and his criminal behaviour.

Toni Collette portrays the pregnant wife, also a neighbour. She is sympathetic to the young girl, defends her against the aggressiveness of her father, gives her wise advice.

The film ends with the birth of Toni Collette’s child, the presence of the father and his behaviour, the presence of Jasira and indications of her transformation into a responsible young woman.

The film is not easy to watch, being very direct in its presentation of sexuality and issues which are not usually the subject of films. It is not particularly graphic in its presentation, but is very challenging to American audiences who tend to be reticent. It is a demanding film. It was written and directed by Alan Ball, who wrote the other film about American suburbia, American Beauty, as well as creating the television series Six Feet Under and True Blood.

1. The title? The emphases? The alternate title, Nothing is Private?

2. The work of Alan Ball, his perspective on American society, suburbia, tensions, the family, sexuality, the influences on teenagers? Race issues? His not shirking or skirting any of the serious issues?

3. Suburbia, homes, streets, school?

4. The background of the Gulf War, President George Bush, Saddam Hussein? Attitudes towards the Middle East? American ignorance of the 80s and 90s? The patriotism, the US, flags? The role of the army reservists? The migrants and their wanting to become full Americans?

5. The story of Jasira, thirteen years old, her appearance, hair, shaving, the influence of her parents, her American mother, her scattered attitude, her demands, her moods? Her example? Her boyfriend and his leaving? Jasira and puberty, the issue of tampons, her father’s reaction, not wanting tampons, embarrassment? Her going to live with her father, the Lebanese background, Christian, patriarchal? Both parents stressing obedience? The criticism of her clothes? Her father hitting her, commands? Her confusion, school, the insults at school? Denise and her friendship? Thomas and his initial hostility, making friends? Her father’s relationship with Thena? Thena’s friendliness?

6. The family next door, their visit, the welcoming gift, sitting and talking, the job of looking after the boy, playing shuttlecock, her hitting it over the fence, his spite, the arguments? Finding his father’s sex magazines, reading them? Her response, arousal? Her being aware of what was happening to her, unaware, her behaviour in class, repeating the arousal, talking frankly? Travis and the magazines, discovering the children looking at them, his talking to Jasira, the attraction, the gift of the magazine, the sexual encounter, her blood, his reaction? Her response to this experience? The pressure on Travis and his behaviour?

7. Jasira and the magazines, the sexy models, their coming alive in her imagination, her dreams? Later Denise and herself posing for the photographer? Explaining she was only thirteen?

8. The character of her father, in himself, age, Lebanese, Christian, rigid in his attitude towards his daughter, more permissive with his relationship to Thena, staying with her? His job, wanting security in the US? His reaction to prejudices, dislike of Travis and the family? His racism towards Thomas, towards African Americans? Trying to protect his daughter? His patriotism, the defence of American values? His being more humane with Thena?

9. Thomas, his age, the insult, the apology? Inviting Jasira to his house, the meal with his parents? The sex talk between them, the phone call? The relationship, the sexual encounter, the discussions for each? His shock about what had happened to her? Her father’s prejudice against him? The sexually active teens and their portrayal of this activity, their lack of any moral reflection?

10. The outbreak of the Gulf War, the talk, Travis as a reservist? Jasira interviewing him for the school magazine? Asking about his condoms? Jasira searching in his belongings? Her father listening to the interview?

11. Her mother’s visit, cheery, the issue of the gifts, the father not giving any? Talking with her husband? Her staying with Jasira, Jasira wanting to stay with her father? The mother’s neediness? The boyfriend walking out?

12. The relationship with Malina and Gill, as neighbours, her pregnancy, kindness and concern, talking with Jasira, frankness, the anatomical book, Jasira reading it, staying with Malina to escape her father? Thomas’s visit, the sexual relationship, the father discovering it? Malina’s reaction? The truth? Malina and her combing Jasira’s hair? Her father’s shock at her behaviour, the challenge from Malina, the change?

13. Travis, being arrested, Jasira talking over what had happened, her father’s reaction, Malina’s reaction? The background of the cat, its death, in the fridge? Malina and her fall, going to hospital?

14. Malina’s fall, Travis calling 911, the hospital, Jasira’s father and his going to the hospital, declining to be present at the birth, Jasira staying, the birth of the little girl?

15. The end, Jasira present at the birth, bringing home the reality of sexuality, children?

16. The film as a moral fable, observation of young people, adults, realism? Explicit but not graphic? The various viewpoints, the conflicting adult role models, the sexualisation of children? The background of racial prejudice?