Watch Skin

Skin is a biographical film from 2008 that is based on the life of Sandra Laing, a South African woman who was born to white parents but classified as “coloured” due to her physical appearance. The movie tells the story of Sandra’s struggle to come to terms with her identity and the racism and discrimination she faced in apartheid-era South Africa.

The movie opens with a scene of a young Sandra, played by Sophie Okonedo, playing with her white siblings. While her siblings have fair skin and blonde hair, Sandra has dark skin and curly hair. Her mother, played by Alice Krige, is concerned about her appearance and takes her to the doctor. The doctor confirms that Sandra is indeed the biological daughter of her parents, but due to a genetic throwback, she has inherited the genes of her black ancestors.

As a result, Sandra is forced to attend a school for non-whites and is subjected to constant harassment and bullying from both white and black students. Her father, played by Sam Neill, is determined to prove that Sandra is his biological daughter and fights against the apartheid system that classifies her as “coloured”. However, his efforts are met with resistance and ridicule from the South African government and society.

Throughout the movie, Sandra struggles to understand her own identity and where she belongs in a society that deems her to be neither white nor black. She becomes involved with black activists and falls in love with a black man, but is forced to leave him when her father is threatened with losing his job due to her association with black people.

Despite her father’s efforts to fight the system, Sandra is eventually classified as “coloured” and forced to leave her family and live with strangers. She marries a black man and has children, but her marriage falls apart due to her insistence on identifying as white. She finally reunites with her family years later, but the damage has been done and the scars of racism and discrimination are permanent.

Skin is a powerful and emotional movie that explores the themes of identity, race, and discrimination in a poignant and thought-provoking way. The performances of the actors are outstanding, particularly Sophie Okonedo who gives a stunning portrayal of Sandra Laing. The cinematography is also superb, with beautiful shots of the South African landscape and powerful scenes that capture the emotion and drama of the story.

The movie is a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and a reminder of the importance of fighting against discrimination and injustice. It is a must-see for anyone interested in South African history, social justice, and the human experience.

Skin is a 2008 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 62.