After her mother Gail (Maria Bello) sends her to live in Houston with her strict father Rifat (Peter Macdissi), Jasira (Summer Bishil), a 13-year-old Arab-American girl, experiences the struggles of becoming a woman under her father's watchful eye and fitting into a community that views her with uncomfortable curiosity. To overcome her loneliness, Jasira seeks the friendship of her two next door neighbors Travis Vuoso (Aaron Eckhart), an army reservist, and Melina Hines, an expectant mother. Stuck in an uncomfortable situation, Jasira must face racism, hypocrisy and an adult world she not quite ready for. Directed by Alan Ball. With Chris Messina, Carrie Preston and Eugene Jones III. Categories: Drama, Based on a Novel. Year: 2007.
Alan Ball in Towelhead
Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) has a perfect wife (Annette Bening) and a perfect house in the perfect neighborhood. Lester, however, is miserable. In the throws of a midlife crisis, Lester watches his marriage dissolve and his own interest grow in one of his daughter's high school friends (Mena Suvari). As his daughter (Thora Birch) develops a friendship with the boy (Wes Bentley) next door and his wife begins an affair, Lester looks deeper inside himself for a cure to his unhappiness. Directed by Sam Mendes. Categories: Drama. Year: 1999.
Alan Ball in American Beauty