Synopsys
Dark, bold and shockingly funny, Towelhead follows the life of Jasira (Summer Bishil), a 13-year-old Arab-American girl, as she navigates the confusing and frightening path of adolescence and her own sexual awakening. Sent to Houston to live with her strict Lebanese father, she quickly learns that her new neighbors find her and her father a curiosity. Worse, her budding womanhood makes her traditional and hot-tempered father uncomfortable. Lonely in this new environment, Jasira seeks friendship and acceptance from her neighbors Mr. Vuoso (Aaron Eckhart), an Army reservist, and Melina (Toni Collette), a meddling but caring expectant mother. Thrown into an unfamiliar suburban world, Jasira must confront racism and hypocrisy at home and at school-and at the same time struggle to make sense of her raging hormones and newfound sexuality. Written and directed by Alan Ball (Oscar-winning writer of American Beauty and creator of "Six Feet Under"), based on the critically acclaimed novel by Alicia Erian.
(Synopsys from Landmark Theaters)

Our Thoughts
I found the movie inspiring and thought-provoking. The major lessons I learned by watching Towelhead, and discussing and pondering it are:

Sexual awakening does not always happen at an age our laws or believes deem appropriate. It happens when it happens. Our choice is not when it happens. We can only choose between whether we want to provide guidance and support to a young person, or whether we want to leave them alone to figure things out by themselves.

It is very difficult for a person (like Jasira's father), who is in themselves insecure and immature, to provide guidance to a child. He reminded me that it is of very high importance to not just concern myself with professional matters, but to also continuously strive for personal and spiritual growth.
Age by itself doesn't make a person (like Jasira's mother) more capable of participating in a fulfilling relationship. We learn about all kinds of subjects in school, but we do not learn much about relationships. As a result many of us end up alone and frustrated.

Racism is not just a blank and white issue. It comes in all kinds of shapes and colors. I find, any time somebody is being thrown into a box, based on their perceived or actual group affiliations, it is a form of racism. Of course this is especially problematic, if that affiliation is non-voluntary, like skin-color, gender, or where one grew up. But racism, I find, is much broader. The movie shows that the same problematic behavior and prejudice apply for simple groupings like somebody's profession. Discriminating, or pre-judging somebody always is a dangerous thing.
We are all responsible for each other. No matter if we are related or not, whether we are legally identified as care-giver or not. Melina offered urgently needed assistance. She was an Angel in Jazira's life at that difficult time.

There are many more ideas and lessons in that movie. I find that Towelhead is a wonderful movie, highly entertaining, and as highly thought-provoking and enlightening.


Links
Landmark Theaters:
http://www.landmark-theaters.com/Films/films_frameset.asp?id=68436
Official Website:
http://wip.warnerbros.com/towelhead/