Skin

• 
  
  November 15, 2009

  her69eyes

  "Skin" tells a story that, had it been fictional, would seem absolutely preposterous. In 1965, Sandra Laing became a central figure in South African newspapers. She was a black girl born to white Afrikaner parents. To many in South Africa, the notion that any Afrikaner had black ...( read more)ancestry was highly controversial. Living in a racial limbo, Laing's story became a perfect representation of the cruelly divisive nature of the South African apartheid-era laws.
  
  Sophie Okonedo plays Laing through her teen years to adulthood. Okonedo is an interesting actress who deserves more attention, but in "Skin" she's hampered by a lazy script. Here, Laing is written solely as a victim - an essentially ingredient for the film's melodrama. Along with Anthony Fabian's uninspired direction, "Skin" never overcomes a certain "made-for-TV" feel.
  
  The parents, Sannie and Abraham Laing (Alice Krige and Sam Neill), run a shop. Sannie is clearly the more loving and liberal of the two, while Abraham is unpleasant and far more blatant with his racism. When a black customer attempts to hand him a few coins, Abraham gestures to the table in order to complete the transaction without any contact.
  
  What holds "Skin" back is the two-dimensional nature of the characters, and there's no better example than Sam Neill as the father. He's written as such a villain, in fact, that when the film finally attempts to redeem him it comes off as comedy. Neill is obviously an exceptionally talented actor and he always brings quite a bit to the table, but this father makes the mother from "Precious" look like Mother Theresa.
  
  "Skin" has a wonderful story to share, but it simply doesn't know how to tell it. The filmmakers seem to be coasting, delivering an entertainment that feels relentlessly conventional. A life like Sandra Laing's deserves more than a glorified daytime soap.

  Share This Review
• 
  
  February 6, 2010

  boriserjavec

  touchy movie about apartheid in south africa. Really good, true story

  Share This Review
• 
  
  January 25, 2010

  onscreenreviews

  ...( read more)556" />
  
  ?Skin? colour doesn?t matter.
  
  I?m not sure if I should feel embarrassed or ashamed by the fact that many more foreigners know of Sandra Laing than I do. She is one of the greatest silent voices to come out of the Apartheid struggle, made famous by a condition that isn?t as rare as I originally though it to be. Today she lives a pleasant life in a quiet part of Johannesburg, but very soon she?ll once again become a recognizable name in the soon to be released biopic of her life called ?Skin?.
  
  Hers is a unique story of struggle. Born to white Afrikaaner parents during the 50s, it didn?t take long for people to notice that Sandra (Sophie Okonedo) was different. Unlike her pale skinned brother, Sandra was by appearance mixed race. The reason for this was that her parents, like many Afrikaaners, possess black genes that were passed on to their daughter. This obscure condition is known as genetic inheritance, but during the Apartheid regime it proved irrelevant. There were only two races, black and white, and for Abraham Laing (Sam Neill) it?s a long hard battle to prove his daughters status in society.
  
  Sannie Laing (Alice Krige) is far more compassionate towards the ?lesser? race of the time. Her open acceptance of her child?s race often creates a rift in her relationship with her husband, and ultimately destroys the bond with her daughter. For Sandra life becomes an uphill struggle to find her own identity one she soon realizes lays in the open arms of the coloured community. As a young woman she finds love with a local tradesmen named Petrus (Tony Kgoroge) who claims her as his wife and offers Sandy a chance at a life.
  
  With love comes disappointment and soon her happiness is drowned out by abuse and sorrow. She escapes the clutches of her now destructive marriage and once again sets off on a journey, this time with her two young children, to rekindle her lost relationship with her parents. Sadly she finds her old life no longer exists forcing her to face the world on her own.
  
  Skin marks the debut feature for British born Anthony Fabian, a man known for his short films and classical music documentaries. His desire to bring the story of Sandra Laing to the big screen was inspired by an interview he had heard on BBC 4 Radio, one that left him in awe of her struggle. He was quick to obtain the rights to her story, and did so with the intention of giving her an opportunity at a better life.
  
  Along with three female writers Helen Crawley (Scottish born writer who lived in Africa for 11 years), Jessie Keyt (American born writer who spent many years teaching in Apartheid-era villages in South Africa) and Helena Kriel (South African born writer who worked in the townships for many years) Anthony manages to bring to the screen an honest depiction of a woman faced with racial confusion.
  
  His efforts to maintain true to the actual events and period are apparent in his authentic use of location and a healthy addition of local talent. However, Sophie?s performance is often lacking the robust African tone that her character requires. As for Sam Neill, his portrayal of a hardened Apartheid supporter with a touch an go accent is just good enough considering the terrible attempts we?ve seen from other high profile foreign actors over the years. The shining star in this film is most certainly Alice Krige whose delivery is flawless and totally in tune with the era in which the storyline plays out.
  
  Working under an independent title, with some funding from the British Council, this film achieves incredible standards given its limitations. This particular period is a very difficult period to depict and is almost always frowned upon by local audiences if portrayed even slightly incorrectly. Fortunately the focus of the storyline leans toward the personal rather than the political. This of course doesn?t disallow the blatant racist stereotypes of the time, which often hinder the flow of the plot instead of aiding in its progression, but buffer the arduous moments with a sentimentality that?s almost universal.
  
  The efforts of both local and international filmmakers deserve applause when considering the dedication that went into making this film a reality. From pilot to full-length feature, and even a novel on the side, the story of Sandra Laing has come a long way from the dusty roads of the Eastern Transvaal. It?s not the finest piece of filmmaking, and it?s certainly not the worst but for a first time effort it shows a lot of heart and soul.
  
  The story of Sandra Laing has lain dormant in our Rainbow Nation and, as we once again invite the world to celebrate comradery and sportsmanship in our beautiful land, will remind us that we all own an identity, no matter what it is.
  
  Rating: ***
  Running time:
  
  Jasyn Howes
  On Screen

  Share This Review
• 
  
  December 20, 2009

  nkatasophie

  mellow...humbling, sad and deep

  Share This Review
• 
  
  November 26, 2009

  valadezraymond

  wow. the best film i have seen this year. Based on the true story of a black girl who was born to two white Afrikaner parents in South Africa during the apartheid era. this film gives you great acting all around, you cant help but fall in love with sophie okonedo and her portra...( read more)yal of sandy lang.

  Share This Review

This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "Skin" !

• Sophie Okonedo
• Sam Neill
• Alice Krige
• Tony Kgoroge
• Ella Ramangwane
• Faniswa Yisa
• Hannes Brummer
• Ben Botha
• Lauren Das Neves

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

• True or false: The puppets used in Tim Burton's 'Corpse Bride' were made from stainless steel armatures covered with silicone skin.  Answer »
• what movie is this quote from and who said it: I'm only laughing on the outside, my smile is just skin deep. If you could see inside I'm really crying, you might join me for a weep.  Answer »
• In what movie was Windex a remedy to all skin problems?  Answer »
• "Behind this mask is more than skin. Behind this mask is ideas, and ideas are bulletproof."  Answer »

No quizzes for Skin. Want to create one?

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

• zaltarica
• ishmonchanel
• harrykuijpers
• kasala2
• bredegade

No recent headlines. Got one?

• 

  Year in Film: 2009

  by BetweenTheTree...
  265 Movies
• 

  Must watch 2009 movies

  by nkatasophie
  8 Movies
• 

  Movies I Have Seen Recently

  by movieguyryan
  345 Movies
• 

  Films ive seen

  by pete1982
  277 Movies
• 

  RS list

  by RThornhill
  74 Movies

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?