American Arab

American Arab, directed in 2013 by Usama Alshaibi, is a heart-rendering and enthralling documentary that candidly explores what it means to grow up Arab in America. It’s an insight into the intricate tapestry of identities that comprise the Arab-American community, each with their unique experiences and stories.

The film kicks off with Usama Alshaibi navigating through his childhood and coming of age in the United States, drawing from his personal experiences as an immigrant. Born in Baghdad to an Iraqi father and a Palestinian mother, Usama moved to Iowa in the United States at a very young age. His transition from growing up in the Arab World to life in middle America forms the heart of the narrative, giving the film a unique perspective.

The movie unfolds in the context of the post-9/11 climate, marked by increased scrutiny, racial profiling, and stereotyping towards Arab Americans. American Arab presents several vignettes illustrating the complexities of identity and the dualities faced by Arabs in America. Similarly, Alshaibi includes fellow Arab Americans, shedding light on their experiences and the conception of 'Arab' in American society. From a punk rocker to a practicing Muslim, the individuals featured render a broad understanding of the American Arab community, echoing the concept that Arabs are not a monolithic group.

Usama doesn't shy away from the harsh realities, the discrimination, or the struggle to straddle two contrasting cultures. It doesn’t gloss over the contentious but integral issue of Islamophobia either. He challenges viewers to look beyond the clichés and generic notions associated with Arabs to see the human stories beneath. As the film progresses, Alshaibi contrasts these hard-hitting scenes with humorous moments, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in trying times. It emphasizes the humanity that transcends culture, ethnicity, or nationality.

Directed with a keen regard for authenticity, American Arab is a hybrid documentary, drawing from the conventions of cinema vérité to unfiltered present-day interviews, personal videos, animated sequences, and graphic images to deliver an intimate and layered depiction of Arab lives in America.

Beyond its exploration of Arab American identity, the film also presents the pain of homesickness and the quest for identity, irrevocably linking United States individuals of Arab descent with their heritage. The documentary reiterates the importance of embracing cultural diversity and understanding the Arab Americans' intricate identity better, including their struggles, their hopes, and their sense of self.

American Arab openly grapples with a broad range of themes, such as the impact of the media on societal perceptions, misconceptions about Arab women, the love for their native language, the ardent attachment to their heritage, their lives as second-generation immigrants, the tensions between intermarriage, and the struggle of cultural assimilation.

Throughout the film, emphasis is placed on breaking stereotypes, creating understanding, and fostering dialogue between the 'us' and the 'other'. It encourages viewers to empathize with the difficulties faced by this community in their pursuit to simply be accepted as 'American'. The film urges a reevaluation of the term 'American', highlighting the multicultural fabric that it truly represents.

The movie seamlessly switches between the personal and the political without losing its emotional resonance. The personal narrative shared by Alshaibi is an effort to make sense of his role and identity as an American and an Arab, a Muslim and a Westerner, a son of immigrants and a father of an American child. His journey pulls the viewer into a compelling discussion about race, religion, politics, and the quest for self-identity within the macrocosm of an increasingly diverse America.

American Arab serves as a thought-provoking depiction of Arab Americans' struggle, resilience, and triumph in United States. It uses captivating visuals and personal narratives to construct an introspective window into a community that often goes unheard. With its thoughtfully curated range of dialogues and visuals, American Arab urges us to not just understand different cultures, but to also celebrate them. The film is a potent reminder of the shared humanity that transcends our cultural, ethnic, or religious backgrounds, and an urgent call to inclusivity and understanding in a world divided by prejudice and stereotype.

In a nutshell, American Arab is a heartfelt, touching, and insightful portrait of Arab Americans' journey and struggles living in a post 9/11 America, their unique experiences, and ultimately, their profound determination to be recognized as American. The film is a must-watch for individuals seeking to understand the complexities of identity, and it resonates with anyone who has ever grappled with the concept of home and selfhood in a place far removed from their cultural origins.