Depressionist film

If you only avoid one unrelentingly traumatic flick this year, avoid "Towelhead". Yes, there are despicable adults who abuse their authority over children, then convince themselves the cruelty was warranted, but who wants to see such horrible behaviour repeated over and over on screen? I understand that the viewer's helpless, confused, angry situation reflects that of the young girl in the movie, but I don't think that's a worthwhile reason to subject yourself to it. I walked away thinking that in depicting the multiple contradictions inherent in society, "Towelhead" had blurred its important themes of burgeoning sexuality, selective racism and conflicting attitudes to war.