Towelhead
Born Today
Home / Towelhead

Towelhead

Year:
Duration:
USA:116 min (DVD version) | USA:124 min
Genres:
Drama
IMDB rate:
7
Director:
Alan Ball
Awards:
2 wins & 2 nominations
Details
Country: USA
Release Date: 2008-09-26
Filming Locations: Chino, California, USA
Earnings
Opening Weekend: $52,823 (USA) (14 September 2008)
Gross: $367,638 (USA) (12 October 2008)
Cast
Actor
Character
Lynn Collins
Lynn Collins
Towelhead
Summer Bishil
Jasira Maroun
Chris Messina
Barry
Maria Bello
Gail Monahan
Peter Macdissi
Rifat Maroun
Gemmenne de la Peña
Denise
Robert Baker
Mr. Joffrey
Eamonn Roche
School Photographer
Aaron Eckhart
Travis Vuoso
Carrie Preston
Evelyn Vuoso
Chase Ellison
Zack Vuoso
Irina Voronina
"Snow Queen" Centerfold
Cleo King
Sales Clerk
Michael McShae
Middle School Jerk
D.C. Cody
Middle School Jerk
Soledad St. Hilaire
Janitor
Nathalie Walker
"Golf Girl" Centerfold
Kim Knight
Topless Golfer (as Kimberly Knight)
LoriDawn Messuri
Topless Golfer (as Loridawn Messuri)
Lorna Scott
French Teacher
Toni Collette
Melina Hines
Eugene Jones III
Thomas Bradley
Shari Headley
Mrs. Bradley
Randy J. Goodwin
Mr. Bradley
Matt Letscher
Gil Hines
Larry Cedar
Glamour Photographer
Virginia Louise Smith
Nurse
Lee von Ernst
OR - OB / GYN Nurse
Lisa Catara
Taxi Cab Model (uncredited)
Alejandro Patiño
Waiter (uncredited)
Did you know?
Trivia
Second time Maria Bello and Aaron Eckhart starring together.First was Thank you for Smoking.
Share this
This film, based on the book Towelhead by Alicia Erian, debuted at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival with the non-controversial title Nothing is Private. However, after consultation with Erian and Warner Brothers, the filmmakers decided to release the movie in the United States and other countries with the same title as the book, obviously an ethnic slur. The title was met with controversy and protests from the Arab-American community. Some complained about the slur itself, others accused Warner Brothers of choosing a buzz-generating controversial title that was misleading since the story centers more on Jasira's sexual behavior than her ethnicity. This and other topics are discussed on the DVD's two panel discussions.
Share this
Actress Summer Bishil turned 18 before filming started, allowing her to play the 13 year old, sexually overactive Jasira without any restrictions as to what she could do or show in the movie.
Share this
Goofs
Melina tells Jasira that an adult having sex with someone under the age of 16 is considered statutory rape. In Texas, however, that age is 17.
Share this
While interviewing the neighbor about the war he says at one occasion "Is that so" twice before he cuts of the tape, later when listening to the tape he only says it one time before the tape continues on to the second part of recording.
Share this
When Jasira is talking to her mother on the payphone when her father has locked her out, there is a "We Card" sticker visible in the convenience store window. The "We Card" tobacco program was not started until 1995, several years after the movie takes place.
Share this
Quotes
Gail Monahan: Hey, what's with the flag?
Share this
Jasira Maroun: [last line - about her father leaving the birthing room] Daddy doesn't like bodies.
Share this
Rifat Maroun: Just so you know, we've decide not to exchange gifts this year. We are protesting the fact that Bush is waiting until after the holiday to wage war.
Share this
Faq
Q
What happened between Jasira and Travis? Why didn't she realize he raped her?
A
Jasira Maroun is a child who gets knocked around at every turn. Her mother sends her away to live with her father (Peter Macdissi) when the mom discovers her boyfriend had shaved Jasira's pubic hair. Jasira's father leaves her alone while he spends time with his girlfriend, but slaps Jasira at the breakfast table for wearing a midriff-revealing top and average-length shorts. The kids at school call her derogatory names, as does the boy, Travis Vuoso's son, that she is hired to babysit. When she slaps Zach Vuoso (Chase Ellison) after he calls her a "towelhead," a "camel jockey," and a "sand nigger," Travis comes over to yell at Jasira and ends up raping her. Jasira feels alone in life and responsible for everything; she was blamed for many problems caused by others. She even apologizes to her father for her plane arriving late at the airport. Given this portrait of Jasira and the fact that she had a crush on Travis -- like the typical crushes most 13-year olds get while growing up -- some viewers suggest that perhaps her mother had not yet properly explained things to her, like what was happening to her body and the way she should properly conduct herself. So, when Travis assaults her, she doesn't even realize that she's been raped until she reads about it in a book. Then, when Travis later comes over and asks Jasira to have dinner with him, she's happy again because he still likes her. It's not until she begins having sex with Thomas that she compares the two experiences and begins to realize that what happened with Travis was rape.
Q
How does the movie end?
A
Jasira goes to stay with Melina (Toni Collette) and Gil (Matt Letscher) Hines after her father bruises her leg in the car. Thomas comes over to "hang out" with Jasira after school. While Melina, almost at term with her pregnancy, takes a nap, Thomas and Jasira have sex in Jasira's bedroom. Melina wakes up, and Thomas hurriedly tosses the condom in the toilet. Just as the four of them are about to sit down to dinner, Jasira's father and his girlfriend show up for dinner, after having been invited several days ago to come to dinner and celebrate the end of the Gulf war. Mr Maroun tries to talk Jasira into coming back home, but Jasira refuses, so he asks if he can at least see where Jasira is sleeping. He notices the condom in the toilet and accuses Thomas of taking Jasira's virginity. Jasira confesses that it was actually Travis Vuoso who took it. Maroun has Travis arrested for rape. Several days later, Thomas tells Jasira that they should stop having sex but Jasira tells him that she doesn't want to stop. When she later sees Travis in his front yard (out on bail), she brings him the body of his dead cat. Melina sees the two of them together and comes running out of the house. Melina falls in the front yard. Travis calls the ambulance to take her to the hospital where she goes into labor. Melina requests that Jasira and her father be with her during the birth, but only Jasira stays. In the final scene, Melina's baby is born as Jasira watches.
Q
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
A
For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Nothing is Private can be found here.
Share this
Photos from cast
Lynn Collins
Popular Celebrities
simple dragon clip art dragon clipart Zaragoza 2014 Oliver. Words starting with the letter D