AmericanEast (2008)

A family man (Badreya) opens an authentic Middle Eastern restaurant with his best friend, who's Jewish.

Director:

Hesham Issawi

Writers:

Sayed Badreya (story), Sayed Badreya,

Stars:

Sayed Badreya, Erick Avari, Anthony Azizi

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sayed Badreya	...	Mustafa Marzoke
Erick Avari	...	Fikry
Anthony Azizi	...	Murad
Amanda Detmer	...	Kate
Nasser Faris	...	Sabir (as Al Faris)
Kais Nashif	...	Omar Nasser
Tony Shalhoub	...	Sam
Ray Wise	...	Agent Stevens
Alfre Woodard	...	Angela Jensen
Tony Plana	...	Dez
Constance Zimmer	...	American Safety director
Tim Guinee	...	John Westerman
Sam Golzari	...	David
Tay Blessey	...	Leila Marzoke
Richard Chagoury	...	Mohammed Marzoke

Storyline

Summer in L.A., it's hot. Homeland Security has set the threat level at red; they're searching for several Arabs alleged to be terrorists. Mustafa, an Egyptian immigrant who runs a falafel shop, comes to the FBI's attention; they investigate him. He has other problems: his young teen son no longer wants to be a Muslim; his sister, a nurse, objects to Mustafa arranging her marriage to a cousin from Egypt. She has a non-Arab suitor of her own. Omar, an employee of Mustafa, is a struggling actor who doesn't want to play only terrorists. Mustafa hopes to open a real restaurant and has a potential partner in Sam, a Jew, whose family objects. What price the American dream?

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, including some sexual references, and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 2008 (Greece)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Distant Horizons, Zahra Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

This should be a TV show!

What a wonderful movie that I came across accidentally on ThisTV (www.thistv.com) late last night (3 AM). I didn't know if I was watching a television series or a movie and was just smitten with the storyline. I live in a metro area with a significant middle eastern population and I was very interested in the perspective shown.

The multi-generational characters, culture clash and what it means to each of them to achieve the American dream offers something that anyone can relate to.

I want to follow the characters for several more years. Make my dream come true and make this a TV series!