* * * *
The Visitor – nf – When a movie is able to shine a fresh emotional and insightful light on some aspect of the immigrant issues in this country, it deserves our attention. Screenwriter and director Thomas McCarthy brings this film to us shortly after bringing out the acclaimed The Station Agent. In this current movie we have Walter Vale who is a depressed, isolated widowed economics professor at a Connecticut college. He comes to Manhattan to deliver a paper at NYU and finds a young couple from Syria and Senegal living in his rarely used flat. Tarek, the young man portrayed by a new comer Haaz Sleiman, plays the African drum and connects with Vale who has yearning to create music perhaps because his late wife was pianist. As the professor finds that he has a knack for playing these drum rhythms, the story also focuses on the evolution of this character who is played by veteran actor Richard Jenkins, well known especially for his work on the TV series Six Feet Under. In the commentary on the Netflix DVD, Jenkins said that he waited a lifetime for a role such as this one . The immigrant issue erupts when Tarek, on a fluke, is picked up by the police and placed in a detention center. This devastates his girl friend Zainab sensitively played by Danai Guriria in her first role since NYU acting school. Rounding out the mix is an experienced actress Hiam Abbasses as Tarek’s mother who comes from Michigan when her son stops his daily phone calls while locked up. We see how the mother and girl friend are even afraid to visit Tarek since they are all “illegal” The emotional interplay between these four actors is outstanding as their characters represent people from three different cultures. The disruption and destruction of hopes and aspiration of the three non-citizens is expressed in a memorable scene which Jenkins releases his pent-up emotions which is reminiscent of the well known frustrating outcry of Peter Finch in the 1971 movie Network . You come away from this film not with any answers but with a sense of the pain of the people who are living these scenarios every day. 2008

* * *
Real Women Have Curves – nf – This movie was made eight years ago but some of the themes should resonate with many people today. The movie was received very well at the Sundance Film Festival in the year in which it came out. It is set in East Los Angeles in a Mexican-American community and focuses on Ana, an attractive very bright but definitely not thin teenager who is about to graduate from High School. One of her teachers, played in a warm sensitive manner, by comedian George Lopez, can help her get a scholarship to Columbia University but her mother expects her to work in the dress factory run by her sister which makes dresses sold for $18 apiece to a distributor which eventually are sold Bloomingdales for $600 each. The film shows a caring and understanding father and grandfather in contrast to the mother who was completely mired in her old country values and her own needs. There also is a coming of age and a sexual awakening, which is nicely depicted. Perhaps the most effective theme of the movie is suggested by its title. We see Ana maintaining a positive image of herself despite an appearance that others might consider overweight. (We aren’t talking about a “Precious” body but the curves are larger than usually seen in Vogue). America Ferrera ( star of Ugly Betty on TV), making her screen debut, playing Ana does a great job showing her confidence, inner and outer beauty as well as her determination which is demonstrated as she confidently walks through many streets of Los Angeles and eventually in New York. Most of the other characters were played by experienced Mexican actors who were excellent, as was the direction by Patricia Cardosa. The movie was mostly in English but there were substantial dialog in Spanish. I would advise that you choose the option on the DVD to show subtitles whenever Spanish was spoken although that is not essential to appreciate the movie. While everyone can enjoy and understand the main character and her family, this movie should have special appeal to teenagers and those who have gone through these trials and tribulations. 2002

* * * *
Towelhead – nf – This is a very effective and sensitive film about the sexual awakening of Jasira, a 13 year Arab-American girl, played very well by Summer Bishil. The setting is Houston, Texas in 1990-91 during the first Gulf War where Jasira has just moved in with her divorced father. The movie as the title suggests is also about racism as we see the thinking and interactions of the main characters. They are her father, an overbearing Arab American proud of his Lebanese background but with little sensitivity or understanding of his daughter, an unhappily married next door neighbor army reservist who is acting out his attraction to Jasira, Thomas the new black high school boyfriend of Jasira who is also ready to act out his attraction and feelings towards Jasira despite the rejection by her father and finally the other couple on the block, which includes a pregnant women, who are more empathic towards Jasira and are trying to protect her. The movie is based on a novel by Alicia Erian with the screenplay and the direction by Alan Ball . There are several well done painful moments in the film .While the storyline may not be universal, it will not be hard to appreciate the struggle of this young women as she encounters her desires and certain realities of life. If you view it now, most of you will probably be seeing this movie on Netflix where you will have the opportunity to view two long drawn out panel discussions led by Director Alan Ball about the use of the title which is a serious racist slur. The points made are quite worthwhile and can be summarized in the first six or eight minutes of the first discussion which also include some interesting comments by Summer Bishil. 2007

* * *
Quinceañera – nf – This film sweetly tells the story of a young girl of Mexican descent just before her “coming out debut” on her 15th birthday. Issues of immigrant families, coming of age, family dynamics, difference and acceptance. 2006