Nothing Is Private (2007)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Alan Ball

Writers (WGA):

Alan Ball (screenplay)
Alicia Erian (novel)

Release Date:

26 September 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

How Can You Find Yourself if No One Can See You?

Plot:

A young Arab-American girl struggles with her sexual obsession, a bigoted Army reservist and her strict father during the Gulf War.

Plot Keywords:

Neighbor | Gulf War | Menstruation | Older Man Younger Woman | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 28

2:35 AM

MAX

Cast

Summer Bishil	...	Jasira Maroun
Chris Messina	...	Barry
Maria Bello	...	Gail Monahan
Peter Macdissi	...	Rifat Maroun (as Peter MacDissi)
Gemmenne de la Peña	...	Denise
Robert Baker	...	Mr. Joffrey
Eamonn Roche	...	School Photographer
Aaron Eckhart	...	Travis Vuoso
Carrie Preston	...	Evelyn Vuoso
Chase Ellison	...	Zack Vuoso
Irina Voronina	...	"Snow Queen" Centerfold
Cleo King	...	Sales Clerk
Michael McShae	...	Middle School Jerk #1
D.C. Cody	...	Middle School Jerk #2
Soledad St. Hilaire	...	Janitor
Nathalie Walker	...	"Golf Girl" Centerfold
Kim Knight	...	Topless Golfer #1 (as Kimberly Knight)
LoriDawn Messuri	...	Topless Golfer #2 (as Loridawn Messuri)
Lorna Scott	...	French Teacher
Lynn Collins	...	Thena Panos
Toni Collette	...	Melina Hines
Eugene Jones III	...	Thomas Bradley (as Eugene Jones)
Shari Headley	...	Mrs. Bradley
Randy J. Goodwin	...	Mr. Bradley (as Randy Goodwin)
Matt Letscher	...	Gil Hines
Larry Cedar	...	Glamour Photographer
Virginia Louise Smith	...	Nurse
Lee von Ernst	...	OR – OB / GYN Nurse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Snowball the Cat	...	Snowball
Lisa Catara	...	Taxi Cab Model (uncredited)
Alejandro Patino	...	Waiter (uncredited)

Directed by
Alan Ball

Writing credits (WGA)
Alan Ball		(screenplay)
Alicia Erian		(novel "Towelhead")

Produced by
Alan Ball	....	producer
Anne Carey	....	executive producer
Ted Hope	....	producer
Christina Jokanovich	....	associate producer
Peggy Rajski	....	executive producer
Scott Rudin	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Thomas Newman

Cinematography by
Newton Thomas Sigel		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Andy Keir

Production Design by
James Chinlund

Art Direction by
Alexander Wei

Set Decoration by
Fainche MacCarthy

Costume Design by
Danny Glicker

Makeup Department
Elisabeth Fry	....	makeup department head
Marie Larkin	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Jonathan Ferrantelli	....	post-production supervisor
Samson Mucke	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lisa Chu	....	second second assistant director (as Lisa Chu Dietze)
Noga Isackson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Isaac Amondson	....	on-set dresser
Andrew Birdzell	....	art department assistant
Christopher Branan	....	carpenter
Eduardo H. Esparza	....	general foreman
Laura Evans	....	set decorating buyer
Kristina Fuangkasae	....	assistant props
Diana Goodwin	....	art department coordinator
Roger Kelton	....	construction coordinator
Jeffrey Mossa	....	assistant art director
Jill Rolie	....	assistant set decorator
Grant Samson	....	lead man
Hillel Chaim Smith	....	on-set dresser
Thomas Spencer	....	set decorating gang boss

Sound Department
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator
Mark Fay	....	utility sound
Dan Fulton	....	assistant sound editor
Mariusz Glabinski	....	sound effects editor
Avram D. Gold	....	supervising sound editor
Marlena Grzaslewicz	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Jackson	....	adr supervisor
Kate Jesse	....	additional boom operator
Jason King	....	sound effects editor
Dan Korintus	....	dialogue editor
Andrew Kris	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Navarro	....	adr mixer
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Lisa Pinero	....	additional sound mixer
Brad Sherman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ira Spiegel	....	sound effects editor
Jody Thomas	....	foley artist
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Mark Weingarten	....	sound mixer

Visual Effects by
Jean-Pierre Boies	....	visual effect supervisor: fly studio
Louis Morin	....	visual effects supervisor
Nathalie Tremblay	....	digital compositor
Antonin Messier Turcotte	....	digital artist

Stunts
Lou Simon	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ismael Araujo Jr.	....	grip
Greg Brooks	....	dolly grip
Jon Callesen	....	best boy electric
Vidal Cohen	....	key grip
Michael DiGiovanni	....	grip
Tulio Duenas	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Chris Fisher	....	assistant camera
John Garrett	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Jimmy E. Jensen	....	assistant camera
Bob E. Krattiger	....	gaffer
Damon Marcellino	....	set lighting technician
Dale Robinette	....	still photographer
Michael A. Savage	....	grip

Casting Department
Nick Anderson	....	casting associate
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting
Ross Meyerson	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stephanie Portnoy Porter	....	costumer (as Stephanie Portnoy)
Silvia Raiano	....	set costumer
Cheryl Scarano	....	costume supervisor
Lorie Shew	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Ned Harvey	....	post-production assistant
Kevin L. James	....	post-production Executive (uncredited )
Julia Nessling-Douglas	....	digital intermediate producer
Misako Shimizu	....	assistant editor
Jimmy Fusil	....	digital intermediate producer (uncredited)

Music Department
Larry Mah	....	digital score recordist
Thomas Vicari	....	scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Charley Bob Burnham	....	transportation coordinator
Gary Jackson	....	driver
Ted Joneson	....	driver
Robert Mckee	....	picture car mechanic

Other crew
Prarthna Arias	....	video playback services
Kara Blanchard	....	assistant: Ted Hope
Alasdair Boyd	....	location manager
Rachel Chapman	....	assistant to the producers
Marjorie Chodorov	....	production accountant
Sarah Clifford	....	animal coordinator
Sarah Clifford	....	live kitten trainer
Alison S. Cohen	....	production counsel
Brad Comfort	....	production intern
Michael Counts	....	production intern
Aidan Orion Crawford	....	office production assistant
Dennis Curlett Jr.	....	production assistant
Joe Dornich	....	key set production assistant
Shelly Helgeson	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach
Cameron Wayne Keith	....	production assistant
Jina Kim	....	production secretary
Eloy Lara	....	key set medic
Joanna Lara	....	production coordinator
Crystal McAlerney	....	assistant production coordinator
Andrea McGee	....	production assistant
Megan Miller	....	additional set production assistant
Sean Oliver	....	adr loop group
Claire Pacacha	....	assistant: Anne Carey
Kyle Roumillat	....	production intern
Tracy Scott	....	script supervisor
Gianna Sobol	....	assistant to producers
Nate Taylor	....	key assistant location manager
Karla Torres	....	production coordinator
Brandon Vedder	....	production intern

Production Companies

• Indian Paintbrush
• Scott Rudin Productions (uncredited)
• This Is That Productions
• Your Face Goes Here Entertainment

Distributors

• Bir Film (2008) (Turkey) (all media)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Benelux Film Distribution (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Films (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• TFM Distribution (2008) (France) (all media)
• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) (2008) (USA) (all media)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Hollywood-DI  HD screening services
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Ovasen  post-production services and facilities
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Tandem Sound  post-production facilities
• Wilshire Stages, The  ADR recording facility

Also Known As:

Towelhead (Australia) (USA) (new title)
Untitled Alan Ball Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong disturbing sexual content and abuse involving a young teen, and for language.

Runtime:

USA:124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Arabic | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:MA | Norway:15 | South Korea:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Indian Paintbrush

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The microwave in the father's house looked current, the airport looked really modern, the nudie mags didn't look that old, and most of the clothes throughout the film looked all wrong.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Barry: You're beautiful just the way you are, Jasira. Those other girls are just jealous because you're growing up faster than they are. And you're prettier than they are. Listen, don't let it get you down. Stupid names they're calling you. This year - just gimme a second
[wets the razor]
Barry: this year, your gonna shut them up. Only, probably you shouldn't tell your mom about this.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: Towelhead (#15.14)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

She Drives Me Crazy

one of 2008's best films

Even at the tender young age of 13, the strikingly beautiful Jasira seems destined to go through life igniting the passions of the men and boys around her. A product of a mixed marriage (her mother is white, her father Lebanese) and a broken home, she lives with her strict, traditionalist dad in a Texas suburb during the time of the first Gulf War. Though shy by nature, Jasira seems wise beyond her years when it comes to exploring her burgeoning sexuality. Like many girls her age, she dreams of one day becoming a famous model like the ones she sees in fashion magazines or on billboards around town. Yet, despite the sternness and rigidity of her father, Jasira winds up getting involved with both a black boy at school and the middle-aged family man who lives two doors down.

With "Towelhead," writer/director Alan Ball returns to the theme of simmering suburban eroticism that he explored so effectively in "American Beauty" and "Six Feet Under." Indeed, it's safe to say that "Towelhead" is possibly the most perceptive, frank and intelligent exploration of teenage sexuality I've ever seen on film. Somehow Ball has managed to take a subject that could easily have become exploitative and sensationalistic and turned into a moving and compassionate tale of flawed individuals who, despite the fact that they may mean well, often act in ways that cause serious harm to others. As is true of every teen, Jasira is naturally curious about her body and intrigued by that secret, forbidden world of pleasure to which only grownups seem somehow privy. The trouble is that Jasira is surrounded by adults who provide her with either weak or contradictory guidance, or who can't control their own urges long enough to think about the harm they might be inflicting on others with their actions. On a broader scale, Ball questions how modern teens can be expected to make wise decisions about sex when they are routinely bombarded with mixed messages from a culture that is both highly sexualized and highly puritanical at one and the same time. Often times, we get the sense that Jasira is using her new found sexuality - without yet fully understanding the powerful effect it is having on the males around her - to fill an emotional void in her life, a void caused by a mother and a father who are so caught up in their own lives that they have little left over for their daughter. To a somewhat lesser extent, the movie also touches on the racism that exists in not only the white culture but the nonwhite culture as well. For while Jasira is being taunted by the kids at school for her dark skin (even though many assume she is Mexican), her own father is forbidding her to date a black boy who has taken a romantic interest in her.

Ball has populated his story (based on the novel by Alicia Erian) with a rich array of complex, multi-dimensional characters, each one a unique and closely observed individual. Beyond the intriguing Jasira, there is her hot-tempered father who, in his own, perhaps clumsy, way clearly loves his daughter but who is so bound in by the traditions of his culture that he can't even begin to understand what is going on in her heart. There is the kind, pragmatic next door neighbor who keeps her eye on the girl and extends the hand of friendship when it is needed most. And, finally, there is the older man caught between what he knows is right and his compelling need to seduce a child young enough to be his own daughter. Ball makes it clear that none of these characters is a hero or a villain, that life is simply too messy and complex a business for us to be assigning such roles to individuals. Yet, he clearly acknowledges that there is such a thing as going over the line, and that adults need to understand that their own desires should never be fulfilled at the expense of others more vulnerable than themselves.

Summer Bishil is heartbreaking and utterly believable as young Jashira, while Peter Macdissi infuses both a sense of menace and a strangely offbeat humor into the role of her hardnosed, dogmatic father. Toni Collete is her usual first rate self as the older woman who takes Jasira under her wing, offering her the kind of guidance her actual parents seem either unwilling or unable to provide for her. As the neighbor who seduces Jasira, Aaron Eckhart brings a great deal of courage, subtlety and restraint to one of the trickiest roles imaginable for an actor. Eckhart is obviously secure in the conviction that the audience will be mature enough to see the humanity in his character even while feeling disgust at his actions.

In fact, that's pretty much the way it is with the entire film. There are some who will be instantly turned off by the highly sensitive nature of the subject matter. But, true artist that he is, Ball has been able to transcend the sleaze to provide us with a heartbreaking human drama that, by touching on the universal, is able to strike a chord of familiarity in the audience.

Put simply, "Towelhead" is one of the very best films of 2008.