Towelhead; laugh, cry, think like a woman

Alan Ball Director,
screen writer,
producer

rt: 116 min


How can rape of a thirteen year old girl by an adult man, overt racial prejudice against blacks and Muslims, making fun of the American flag and the Iraq war be brought to the screen without resorting to a black versus white, good versus bad presentation. How can these loaded subjects make us laugh except in the hands of an expert director, Allen Ball, and an author(Alicia Erian)upon whose work this riveting,funny yet tragic story is based.

The key to this achievement is the humor. And the complexity of the characters, the compelling performances by each of the actors and a story that gives us a view of ourselves when we were young and shows what we have become. Not evil just basically out of control and insensitive to others.


Towelhead raises the bar against the horror of life, against the one sided, get the enemy at any cost. It brings us face to face with a reality that doesn't end with a new law or the police policing our interactions to the detriment of us all. This film looks at life and life's events through the eyes of a woman( a rarity in itself) and it is not to be missed.


I was particularly struck by the rape scene played by a 20 year old actress in contrast to the film Hounddog where the rape scene was played by a thirteen year old girl. This selection of actress made Hounddog controversial.
Hounddog brought to the fore the subject of child protection. The film industry seems to consider protection important for the viewer with all their ratings, and the child actor be damned, I think the industry should be more in tune with their actors protection and less focused on who sees what.

Towelhead is a film to be embrace and applauded. If you see one film, support one cinematic effort this year, Towelhead is the film see.

now playing at the Angelica theater on Houston street, New York City



Linda Z
WBAI Women's Collective
RT Vine: Witches Brew

Warner Independent pictures
in assoc. with Indian Paintbrush
This is that Production
In assoc. with Your Face Goes Here entertainment