Popping the DVD in the player, I wasn’t sure to what to expect. “Skin” could possibly be an action movie, some dirty flick, an example of a “cut and dice ‘em” horror film, or a story of slavery in the American South. As I sat back in my loveseat, the tumultuous life of Sandra Laing, played by British actress Sophie Okonedo, began to unfold on the screen.
Based on a true story, “Skin” is about a young woman who grew up during 1950s Apartheid in South Africa. While that is interesting enough, the story has a flip side. The color of her skin is the driving force of the movie. Written by Helen Crawley, Jessie Keyt and Helen Kriel and directed by Anthony Fabien, the audience is immediately thrown into Sandra’s life, finding that she looks black, while her parents are white. She is not adopted, but her skin appears to be a different color than that of her family. The film embarks on Sandra’s life as she faces the emotional and traumatic experiences of trying to fit into a society that does not know what to make of her.
“Skin” was released overseas in such countries as the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as countries in Africa. The film was only screened domestically at select viewings. Elsewhere in the U.S., the movie went straight to DVD, available at Blockbuster stores.
So, how did this film stay under the radar for so long in the United States?
Released in 2008, “Skin” became an international success, winning several awards in 2009, including Audience awards at many film festivals and the Amnesty International award at the Giffoni Film Festival. One reason that the film has not been more widely seen in the States is because the movie traveled on the international film festival circuit extensively before hitting the U.S. Other reasons may include race relations. “Some believe that distributors are still reluctant when it comes to promoting black stars in leading roles…with black women faring worst,” states Current.com, a multiplatform online news source. The film could also be an unwanted reminder of the country’s struggles with race and prejudice.
Nevertheless, “Skin’s” narrative is told with such magnitude that the film’s obscurity is difficult to comprehend. Sandra’s life story tantalizes the soul and pulls at the heartstrings. Not melodramatic in any shape or fashion, this film is a powerful example of survival and courage; tears are expected, so be sure to have a box of tissues handy. In a time when the U.S. has elected its first black president, this film begs to answer to the age-old question, what truly is “skin deep?”