Nothing Is Private

In a movie that was once more aptly titled, Nothing Is Private And Towelhead walks an exceedingly sensitive fine line between cutting, cleverly comical social satire, and exposing those raw wounds of an emotionally shattered, heartbreaking female adolescence. ... Full Review

It is an engrossing, unforgettable film, if more than a little incendiary. He deserves credit just for signing on to the film, knowing that there was no way he could come of it looking good. ... Full Review

Macdissi finds the innate absurdity in the character, and keeps us from hating such a buffoon. Calling it a tough lesson to learn would be an understatement, but that's also what makes the ending such a letdown. ... Full Review

Adding to the viewing discomfort is excessive camera attention to the issues about her periods, and the stilted direction which leaves no tone untried. As a story, Jasira's deflowering and surrounding socialisation issues perhaps make for top reading, but as the film turns a mental image into concrete visuals, it requires much greater finesse to make it cinema. ... Full Review

Macdissi finds the innate absurdity in the character, and keeps us from hating such a buffoon. Eckhart, who shares some of the most raw, uncomfortable moments with Bishil, is in a tough spot: His character is obviously a villain, yet he also has to show some glimmers of vulnerability to help us understand his twisted motivation. ... Full Review

Alan Ball returns to the big screen with Towelhead, a title that pretty much signposts what you're in for.It follows young teen Jasira (Summer Bishil), an Arab-American girl who is only just coming to terms with her sexuality. ... Full Article

Initially titled Nothing Is Private , Towelhead is nothing if not topical, tackling in turn such hot-button issues as pedophilia, racism, patriotism and the sexual coming of age of a 13-year-old Christian Arab girl named Jasira (Summer Bishil). ... Full Article

The long-awaited directorial debut of Alan Ball does not disappoint. Nothing is Private , based on the Alicia Erian novel, Towelhead , is an alternately moving and bitingly funny portrait of a Lebanese-American father and daughter who are lost at... ... Full Article

TORONTO-If you spend a week at an event as big as the Toronto International Film Festival and don't see something worthy of contempt, you probably aren't trying hard enough. ... Full Article

TORONTO -- "Towelhead" (formerly "Nothing Is Private"), Alan Ball's feature directorial debut, packs a major wallop. Alternately disturbing, laceratingly satirical and affectingly poignant, the film, which he adapted from the novel, "Towelhead," by Alicia Erian, is very much a companion... ... Full Article