The Hollywood Offensive: Islamic Group Offended by Alan Ball’s ‘Towelhead’

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 26, 2008

It has almost come to the point where I could turn this into a regular weekly column, where I single handedly track down all of the activist groups who are needlessly offended by the “art” of mainstream film and set them straight with a simple dose logic. This time we will travel a little wide of the mainstream, to an indie film from a big name director that is getting some attention from the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The film in question is American Beauty writer Alan Ball’s Towelhead, a drama about a young Arab-American girl (Summer Bishil) who struggles with sexual obsession as she goes to live with her very strict father (Peter Macdissi), who just so happens to live next to a bigoted, kid-touching Army reservist (Aaron Eckhart).

The CAIR-LA asked via a press release yesterday that Warner Bros., who is distributing the film under their now-defunct Warner Independent Pictures label, to change the title of the film before its September 12 release. In the statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said in part:

“The title…is of great concern to us, since the word is commonly used in a derogatory manner against people of the Muslim faith or Arab origin…We have no desire to inhibit the creative process or your right to produce any film you wish. However, I ask you to take the above concerns into consideration and examine the social implications of releasing the film under its current title, ‘Towelhead.’”

Now, unlike the issue over the word “retard” related to the recently released Ben Stiller film Tropic Thunder, this one seems to be a bit more straight forward. In fact, once again we see a group who does have the right to be offended, as anyone would. The term “towelhead” is a very derogatory term; I don’t think anyone would argue that. The problem is that once again we are dealing with the right of the artist, in this case Alan Ball, to create art and deliver it uncensored. It has nothing to do with the fact that the film’s title has significant relevance to its message, one that displays many of the struggles that young American Muslims face every day in our country, and more to do with Alan Ball’s right to call his movie whatever he so chooses.

Of course, we are talking about the title of the movie, which is significantly more prominent than a piece of the film’s plot, but either way, having seen the movie it is clear that this film’s intent is not to offend those of the Islamic faith or of Muslim decent, but to paint a picture of the bigotry that exists in America. Then again, I wouldn’t expect anyone petitioning a studio against a film to actually see the film in question — that would be too much to ask.

I suppose the ultimate reason that the studio, who released a statement later saying that while they regret any offense there will be no change made to the title, is that we are mere weeks away from the film’s release. And though Towelhead isn’t getting as much buzz as say, Tropic Thunder, we can safely assume that plenty of money has already been spent on marketing, money that would have to be re-spent should they bow to the requests of CAIR-LA. As well, we are talking about a film that has already been retitled from Nothing is Private, which is the title it held when it debuted at the Toronto Film Festival in 2007, to Towelhead for its second debut at Sundance in January of ‘08. At this point, whether they want to or not, Warner Bros. has to stick with Alan Ball’s title.

As well, I bring up the issue of timing because it seems to be a constant theme with these feats of anti-Hollywood activism. These groups seem to be standing up to studios and their films in the last moments before a film is unleashed to the public. Most likely, it is this way because groups are counting on the weeks leading up to release as the period which will generate the most publicity for their cause. The problem is that such motives are painfully obvious to the rest of us — we knew about a movie called Towelhead back in January. Heck, I wrote a review of it from Sundance. Where was CAIR-LA then? If these groups really expect to have changes made based on the “social implications” of releasing movies with offensive elements, perhaps they should get on their soapboxes a little earlier.

Previously: Sundance Review: ‘Towelhead’ is Uncomfortable to Watch, But Fantastic

Also Related: Ben Stiller, Paramount Learn That You Never Go Full Retard

Also, view the trailer for Towelhead below:

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