Towelhead (2008): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Towelhead is a 2008 drama directed by Alan Ball, starring Summer Bishil, Aaron Eckhart and Peter Macdissi. It is based on Towelhead by Alicia Erian. It runs 2 hours 4 minutes and earned $691,733 worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Female Lead at the Spirit Awards 2009. Critics gave it 49% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 4m (124 min)
- Director
- Alan Ball
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English
- Based on
- Towelhead by Alicia Erian
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Towelhead About?
The premise of Towelhead without spoilers, adapted from Towelhead by Alicia Erian. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Jasira, a young woman raised in a conservative household, struggles to reconcile her upbringing with the realities of American culture. She finds comfort and connection through unexpected friendships with her neighbors, Mr. Vuoso and Melina. As these relationships evolve, they challenge Jasira’s deeply held values and create friction with her father’s rigid expectations, forcing her to confront difficult choices and navigate a complex path to self-discovery.
Towelhead Cast
Summer Bishil leads the cast, with Aaron Eckhart and Peter Macdissi. Directed by Alan Ball.
- Director Alan Ball
Towelhead Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Towelhead 49% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.
-
IMDb 6.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 49% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 58%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 57 Metascore
User score 6.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB
Towelhead Plot Summary
What happens in Towelhead from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1990, amid the Kuwait War of 1990–1991, 13-year-old Jasira, Summer Bishil, a Lebanese-American girl, lives with her mother in Syracuse, New York. When her mother’s live-in boyfriend helps Jasira shave her pubic hair, her mother sends Jasira to live with her old-fashioned and domineering Lebanese father, Rifat, in suburban Houston, Texas. Rifat is intensely strict; he does not permit her to use tampons and would rather spend time with his new girlfriend Thena. Even Jasira’s mother offers little support when she reaches out for help, leaving Jasira to endure his rules on her own.
Full summary
The whole story of Towelhead, scene by scene
Towelhead Box Office
Towelhead grossed $691,733 worldwide. $372,124 came from the US and Canada and $319,609 (46%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$691.7K
- US & Canada
- $372.1K
- International
- $319.6K
Towelhead Awards & Nominations
Towelhead earned 1 award nomination, including Best Female Lead at the Spirit Awards 2009.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Spirit Awards 2009 1 nomination- Nominated Best Female Lead – Summer Bishil
Towelhead Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Towelhead.
How Well Do You Know Towelhead?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the 13‑year‑old protagonist?
Seen Towelhead?
Towelhead FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Towelhead, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Towelhead?
Towelhead runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).
When was Towelhead released?
Towelhead was released on September 12, 2008.
Who directed Towelhead?
Towelhead was directed by Alan Ball.
More films by Alan Ball Who is in the cast of Towelhead?
Towelhead stars Summer Bishil, Aaron Eckhart and Peter Macdissi.
How much did Towelhead make at the box office?
Towelhead grossed $691,733 worldwide ($372,124 domestic, $319,609 international).
How is Towelhead rated?
Towelhead has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 49% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.
Is Towelhead based on a book?
Yes. Towelhead is adapted from Towelhead by Alicia Erian.
Was Towelhead nominated for any awards?
Towelhead received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
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
