Towelhead

Towelhead (2007)
Directed by Alan Ball
Starring Summer Bishil,Peter Macdissi, Aaron Eckhart

Fantastic film. The story focuses on Jasira (Bishil) a 13yr old Lebanese/American girl who is sent to live with her very strict Lebanese father in Texas, after her mothers boyfriend (in NY) shaves Jasira's pubic hair. Jasira is curious about sex and the outside world, she wants to get away from her controlling over protective father who alienates her from friends and society.

13yr old Jasira gets embroiled in an creepy relationship with her next door neighbor, an army reservist played by Eckhart. The interaction results in a sexual molestation that leads to a later rape; awful themes that are handled correctly as seen from Jasira's perspectivem through the innocent eyes of a child. Jasira also has a sexual relationship with an African American boy from her new school. Her father's racism will not allow Jasira to see this boy, forcing her to move out of the house and live with a friendly watchful neighbor, played by Toni Collette; someone who is suspicious of Eckhart.

The climax comes when the father demands Jasira return home; blaming the school boy and Collette for corrupting his daughter when he finds a used condom in the neighbors spare room where his daughter stays. Jasira confesses to everyone present that Eckhart took her virginity in her fathers house. In this moment reality hits and for the first time the audience hears appropriate reactions to the crime; we are reminded again how young Jasira is, how fast kids grow up these days, how important it is to love and communicate with your children etc. It's a heavy conclusion. Her father instantly realizes that his alienation was partly responsible for his daughter searching for comfort in the arms of other men. Eckhart is then arrested.

It's a very profound coming of age drama. It captures the curiosity of youth perfectly, it shows how teens may act adult but they have no real comprehension of consequence. Bishil is truly brilliant as Jasira and Macdissi is wonderful as her father, a character we love to hate. The film deals with relationships in a gloves off style, its old vs new, refreshing and very exciting. A must see, rent or own on DVD