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Movies / Upcoming / Skin
Skin

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Skin (2009)

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Reviews Counted:47

Fresh:41

Rotten:6

Average Rating:6.8/10

Consensus: Sophie Okonedo, Sam Neill, and Alice Krige do wonderful work in Skin, delivering performances whose strength is underlined by the incredible real-life events upon which the movie is based.

Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

Synopsis: Skinis the astonishing true story of Sandra Laing (Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda/The Secret Life of Bees) & young Ella Ramangwane), a black child born in 1950s South Africa to white Afrikaners (Sam... Skinis the astonishing true story of Sandra Laing (Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda/The Secret Life of Bees) & young Ella Ramangwane), a black child born in 1950s South Africa to white Afrikaners (Sam Neill (The Tudors/Jurassic Park) & Alice Krige (Chariots of Fire/Star Trek: First Contact), unaware of their black ancestry. Rural shopkeepers serving the local black community, Sandra’s parents lovingly bring her up as their ‘white’ little girl. At the age of 10, Sandra is sent to an all-white boarding school and confronts the full force of the country's legalized system of racism when she is reclassified by the government as black and expelled from the school. Her parents fight for her to regain white privilege, taking the case all the way to the Supreme Court - and effecting a change in the law, so that she becomes officially white again. But by the time she is a teenager, Sandra knows she will never be accepted by the white community. She falls in love with Petrus, (Tony Kgoroge - Blood Diamond/Hotel Rwanda), a black vegetable seller, and they elope together. Furious and broken-hearted, Sandra's father disowns her. Now she must live her life, for the first time, as a black woman in South Africa. Discovering a new culture and community brings confusion but also joy for Sandra while she still yearns for reunion with her family.

Skin tells a fascinating story of betrayal and triumph with grace and simplicity raising the question of whether the labels “black” and “white” have any real meaning beyond that which society imposes. Sandra’s determined fight for her basic freedoms and her parents’ love is identifiable for all thanks to a radiant performance by Sophie Okonedo. Alice Krige, born and raised in Apartheid South Africa, is unforgettable as the mother torn between her husband’s rage and her daughter’s needs. Sam Neal provides another strong, empathic performance as the troubled head of the household. --© Jour de Fette Films [More]

Starring: Sophie Okonedo, Sam Neill, Alice Krige

Starring: Sophie Okonedo, Sam Neill, Alice Krige

Director: Anthony Fabian

Director: Anthony Fabian
Screenwriter: Helen Crawley
Story: Anthony Fabian
Studio: Jour De Fete Films

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Reviews for Skin

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Powerful apartheid drama with a strong script, intriguingly complex characters and terrific performances from Sophie Okonedo, Sam Neill and Alice Krige.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/29/09
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Based on a true story, his powerful drama tells an important story from Apartheid-era South Africa with honesty and real sensitivity. And the cast makes it thoroughly gripping by never playing it safe.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
10/29/09
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Skin is one of those worthy and watchable dramas that are un-demanding and a bit underwhelming. It should leave you with a big lump in your throat, but it’s strangely unemotional.

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (UK) | comment Comment
07/28/09
Cosmo Landesman
Cosmo Landesman
Sunday Times (UK)

It is salutary to be reminded 15 years after South Africa's first free election just what an iniquitous practice apartheid was.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
07/28/09
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

An absorbing, worthwhile drama.

Full Review Source: Daily Express | comment Comment
07/28/09
Allan Hunter
Allan Hunter
Daily Express

Very watchable in places with moving performances but not as brave or indepth as you want it to be.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
07/24/09
Anna Smith
Anna Smith
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Director Anthony Fabian and his team of writers have lost sight of the conflicts inherent in her story, relying on TV-movie cliché and tired, unsuccessful attempts at emotional manipulation.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
07/24/09
Tom Huddlestone
Tom Huddlestone
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An admirably understated central performance from Sophie Okenedo, supported by a fine cast, gives a human face to this true-life race relations drama, which never over-simplifies in favour of easy emotional wins.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
07/24/09
Catherine Bray
Catherine Bray
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The linear A-to-B storyline gives the film a TV movie feel, with an overdose of melodrama not helping matters.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
07/24/09
David Edwards
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

Laing’s troubled history is full of heart-wrenching tragedy and, for most of its running time, Skin is very effective. The trouble is, it feels quite small, more like a Movie of the Week than a fully fledged feature.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
07/24/09
Toby Young
Toby Young
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This quietly intelligent drama, based on a true story, finds a new way of dramatising race, class and society in apartheid-era South Africa.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
07/24/09
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If anything, you wish for a bit more bite and artistic daring.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
07/24/09
Tim Robey
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The melodramatic, mediocre score runs roughshod over such subtleties and highlights how fundamentally conventionalised Skin is.

Full Review Source: Little White Lies | comment Comment
07/24/09
Sophie Ivan
Sophie Ivan
Little White Lies

Only the conventional storytelling detracts from a film that serves both as poignant family saga and potent allegory.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
07/24/09
Neil Smith
Neil Smith
Total Film

A dull, stiltedly scripted potter through re-warmed liberal indignation and heart-on-sleeve emotion.

Full Review Source: Financial Times | comment Comment
07/24/09
Nigel Andrews
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times

The early scenes are slightly stiff, and the acting uncertain, but this story of estrangement is sufficiently remarkable in itself.

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
07/24/09
Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Independent

You could hardly call this a timely film but it does remind us of the evils of racism and the misery it causes.

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
07/24/09
Derek Malcolm
Derek Malcolm
This is London

A powerfully emotional, genuinely fascinating story, enriched by complex characters, superb performances and assured direction.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
07/24/09
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Based on a true story, his powerful drama tells an important story from Apartheid-era South Africa with honesty and real sensitivity.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
07/24/09
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Great performances and a smart decision to avoid melodrama make Skin worth seeing but it's the small things that hold it back from being truly great.

Full Review Source: Movie Retriever | comment Comment
11/13/09
Brian Tallerico
Brian Tallerico
Movie Retriever
 
 
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Latest News for Skin

October 31, 2009: Apartheid poses problem for white couple with black baby. Opens in new window
More...

October 29, 2009: Critics Consensus: This Is It Is Certified Fresh
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