Customer Reviews

American East

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I can't emphasize enough the importance of this film's message which is really about tolerance, understanding and respect. The actors have done a great job in portraying very complex Arab characters who are caught up in the frenzy of post-911 America. They face many obstacles when encountering prevailing stereotypes about who Arabs are and how they are perceived in general. While at the same time, they are also questioning their own personal prejudices as they try to assimilate in American society. The mix of actors is perfect; they all work very well together to drive home the message that we are all human beings deserving of respect and understanding if only people would listen and not be quick to rush to judgement. I very highly recommend this film.

I saw this film in the theatre once and another time at a film festival. It is amazing. It dealt with important issues but still was entertaining with great performances from Tony Shalhoub, Anthony Azizi and the rest of the cast. It also has the guy from the movie "The Visitor" (I think his name is Haaz Sleiman) who was very funny. I think its not in the theatre anymore so I would highly recommend buying this.

Mustafa is like so many other Americans-struggling and trying to do the right thing. Of course, his life (and the lives of his families) is complicated by the troubles of the day. Americaneast tells a heartfelt story of coping with the adversity of sharing an ethnic background with the enemy of the day.

We need more movies like this. Too few people in this country give any thought that American immigrants are people just like them with their own hopes, dreams, and problems. Americaneast addresses those thoughts and is entertaining at the same time. I highly recommend this movie.

A minor misunderstanding at the LAX airport gets Mustafa, owner of Habibi's Kebab and Falafel restaurant in East Los Angeles, under questioning of the FBI for suspicious behavior. It's post-911 and Americans are on high alert, and Arabs are easy targets, even those just at the airport to pick up visiting relatives from Egypt.

What follows are the oftentimes stereotypical exchanges between clientele at Habibi's: a radical Jordanian Murab, business partner Sam (a Jew), an Iraqi Christian and several orthodox Muslims who then argue with each other about the fate of Arabs in the United States. Murab, who acts like a rapping radical Musawi, plays the militant racist who blames all the troubles on the Jews. Mustafa plays the itinerant optimist despite all the woes that fall in his path, and there are many in this movie. Mohammed is his confused son who doesn't understand why he is a Muslim. Salwah is Mohammed's sister who tries hard to be a secular American. And then there's Omar, the aspiring actor who's trying hard to break the Arab stereotype in Hollywood.

The first 30 minutes are very disturbing as we watch how the characters in the Arab community tear each other down. The Jews in this movie are no different: Sam's family wants him to cut off all ties with his Iraqi business partner.

Most of the conflict in this movie takes place between Arabs, both secular and devout; between Arabs and Jews; and lastly between Arabs and the ignorant Americans who treat all Arabs as potential terrorists. The tense plot of this film predicts a violent outcome no matter who moves first, and it's this predictability that makes this movie a bit of a cheesy reenactment of all that which was bad in post 911 America. Yet it's the Jewish and Arab family that in the end make ends meet and shake hands over a business deal.

Yet despite all the tension and the predictability, there are some tender moments in this film, and the hopeless optimisim of the main character results in a pseudo happy end.

This is an interesting movie to show for a multi-cultural movie. It covers bigotry, hatred, racism and shows how easily misunderstandings can get out of hand because conflicting cultures don't understand nor have the patience for each other's differences.

This movie shows the flip side of what the media portrays and the stereotypes of middle eastern peoples and it is sad as well...I keep thinking about it....

Best film in a long time. Story that every American should see to realize what damage media does to lives of so many people. Eye opening movie.

NOTHING!!! There is nothing to say because I still haven't received it! The 'ESTIMATED' time of deliver that the 'SELLER' gave me was between Jan.30th - Feb. 17th. It is now the '24th' of FEBRUARY and I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE MY PURCHASE!