Watch Towelhead

Towelhead is a drama film that was released in 2007, directed by Alan Ball, who is best known for writing American Beauty and Six Feet Under. The movie is based on a novel of the same name by Alicia Erian that explores themes such as adolescent sexuality, race, and prejudice. The movie received generally positive reviews from film critics, and The New York Times called it "a smart, nuanced and bracingly frank look at adolescence and race."

The story focuses on Jasira Maroun, a thirteen-year-old girl who lives with her mother in Syracuse, New York in the early 1990s. Jasira's parents are divorced, and her mother decides to move to Texas with her new boyfriend. However, she decides to send Jasira to live with her estranged Lebanese father, Rifat, in Houston. Jasira is a mixed-race girl with a light complexion, and her father is very protective of her, forbidding her from wearing makeup, shaving her legs or even asking any questions about sex. These restrictions make Jasira feel isolated, confused and resentful.

After arriving in Houston, Jasira befriends a neighbor who introduces her to tampon use, and soon after, she starts menstruating. Rifat and his conservative wife Melina (Peter Macdissi) view menstruation as a sign of a girl becoming a woman and demand that Jasira must now behave in a more conservative manner. Jasira starts to rebel against Rifat's rules and sneaks out to buy a bikini from the mall. Her behavior does not sit well with Rifat or Melina, and they try to control their daughter's behavior by abusing her physically and mentally.

The movie takes a dark turn when Jasira's neighbor, Travis (Aaron Eckhart), a middle-aged man who is also a reservist in the army, begins a sexual relationship with her. Jasira believes that sleeping with Travis will help her become more mature and desirable, but the relationship quickly becomes manipulative and borderline abusive. Jasira struggles to comprehend the complexities of the relationship, and as the tension between her father and Travis mounts, she is forced to confront the realities of her own sexuality and desires.

The movie manages to create tension and drama through the use of raw, realistic performances from the main cast, particularly Summer Bishil, who plays Jasira with a heartbreaking vulnerability. The movie's cinematography, score, and production design all work together to create an immersive atmosphere that pulls the audience into Jasira's world.

Overall, Towelhead is a well-made movie that tackles sensitive topics with honesty and sensitivity. The movie's exploration of the complexities of teenage sexuality, race, and prejudice feels authentic and undeniable. Viewers who are comfortable with confronting these heavy themes will find a compelling story and well-executed drama that will stay with them.

Towelhead is a 2008 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 4 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 57.