Review of film: "TOWELHEAD” [a/k/a “NOTHING IS PRIVATE”] -- UN-covering hidden problems

Review of film:  "TOWELHEAD” [a/k/a “NOTHING IS PRIVATE”] --  UN-covering hidden problems  =  

                 [ RATING:  7.75 of 10 stars ] 

Date Rated: Aug 26, 2008 | Rel. Date: Sep 12, 2008 =

This film (seen with a Q&A afterwards by writer/director ALAN BALL who wrote “American Beauty”) is a deeply SERIOUS depiction of problems including various types of abuse suffered by the 13-year-old daughter of a Christian Arab man (PETER MACDISSI) living in the U.S. at the time of the first Iraqi war...


...  On one hand, it’s almost maddening the way she (played by SUMMER BISHIL) seems so incredibly uninformed, naive and oblivious to the world and actions by people around her (including a creepy neighbor strongly played by AARON ECKHART); the word “No!” doesn’t seem to exist in her world...


...  But, as Ball commented, “I see her as a heroine— a SURVIVOR”, in that, at the end, “she stood up for herself” & “the girl is not DESTROYED” and “she’d found INNER strength & she’s not really a victim”...


 ...  Understand my recommendation is based upon the fine challenging ACTING & story-telling in this film (which isn't “easy” to take, and you must be aware of its exceptionally explicit R-rated nature in even going to see it)…