Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Romantic drama

AmericanEast (2008): Cast & Plot

AmericanEast (2008) movie poster

AmericanEast is a 2008 romantic drama directed by Hesham Issawi, starring Sayed Badreya as Mustafa Marzouke, Tony Shalhoub and Sarah Shahi. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes.

Loading streaming availability…
AmericanEast (2008) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 52m (112 min)
Director
Hesham Issawi
Genres
Romance , Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is AmericanEast About?

The premise of AmericanEast without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Set in a sweltering Los Angeles summer, Homeland Security has raised the threat level to red and is hunting Arab suspects. Mustafa, an Egyptian falafel‑shop owner, draws FBI scrutiny while juggling a teenage son rejecting Islam, a sister who opposes an arranged marriage, an aspiring actor employee, and a partnership with Sam, a Jewish man whose family objects. The film asks what the American Dream truly costs.

AmericanEast Themes & Keywords

· 1 tag
  • restaurant
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

AmericanEast Cast & Characters

Sayed Badreya leads the cast as Mustafa Marzouke, with Tony Shalhoub as Sam and Sarah Shahi as Salwah Marzoke. Directed by Hesham Issawi; 8 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in AmericanEast

· 4 more
Plot

AmericanEast Plot Summary

What happens in AmericanEast from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Mustafa, Sayed Badreya is a widowed Egyptian immigrant who runs Habibe’s Café, a warm, busy gathering place in Los Angeles where people with Middle Eastern roots come to connect, share news, and keep their traditions alive. He is deeply devoted to giving his son Mohammed a steady, moral upbringing, even as the currents of modern urban life test that commitment. Beyond his role as a father, he becomes the steadfast protector of his unwed sister Salwah, and, under family duty, he is expected to arrange a traditional marriage for her. Yet Mustafa’s respect for tradition begins to collide with his own budding ambitions to chase the American Dream when he pitches a bold plan to open a new restaurant with his Jewish partner—his friend Sam, Tony Shalhoub.

Full summary

The whole story of AmericanEast, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

AmericanEast Trailers & Videos

The trailer of AmericanEast.

American East Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know AmericanEast?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who owns Habibe's Café in Los Angeles?

Seen AmericanEast?

FAQ

AmericanEast FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of AmericanEast, each answered in a sentence.

How long is AmericanEast?

AmericanEast runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).

When was AmericanEast released?

AmericanEast was released on November 14, 2008.

Who directed AmericanEast?

AmericanEast was directed by Hesham Issawi.

Who is in the cast of AmericanEast?

AmericanEast stars Sayed Badreya as Mustafa Marzouke, Tony Shalhoub as Sam and Sarah Shahi as Salwah Marzoke, among 8 credited actors.

Does AmericanEast have a post-credit scene?

No. AmericanEast has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app