Towelhead

Writer Alan Ball (American Beauty, Six Feet Under) makes his directing debut with this provocative film that's brave in every aspect, specially all the actors involved but falls short in its treatment which is a shame. Where Alan Ball the writer succeeds with material, the director fails to find the right tone. The story of an half Lebanese girl who discovers her sexuality without her parents care falls prey to her next door neighbor and a classmate. The story needs a precise guidance for the actors and the audience for which Ball is totally the wrong director. The actors get high marks for their fearless performances, specially Summer Bishil as the lead and Aaron Eckhart as the neighbor. Toni Collette is solid as always. Peter Macdissi as the father never finds the right balance because Ball fails him more than the others in a difficult performance. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.