X
  • 2009
  • PG-13
  • Jour de Fête Films
  • 1 h 47 m
  • 2009
  • PG-13
  • Jour de Fête Films
  • 1 h 47 m

Summary Skin is one of the most moving stories to emerge from apartheid South Africa: Sandra Laing is a black child born in the 1950s to white Afrikaners, unaware of their black ancestry. Her parents are rural shopkeepers serving the local black community, who lovingly bring her up as their ‘white’ little girl. But at the age of ten, Sandra is d...

Directed By: Anthony Fabian

Written By: Helen Crawley, Jessie Keyt, Helena Kriel, Anthony Fabian

  • 2009
  • PG-13
  • Jour de Fête Films
  • 1 h 47 m
  • 2009
  • PG-13
  • Jour de Fête Films
  • 1 h 47 m

Skin

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 16 Critic Reviews
62
User Score Available after 4 ratings
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Summary Skin is one of the most moving stories to emerge from apartheid South Africa: Sandra Laing is a black child born in the 1950s to white Afrikaners, unaware of their black ancestry. Her parents are rural shopkeepers serving the local black community, who lovingly bring her up as their ‘white’ little girl. But at the age of ten, Sandra is d...

Directed By: Anthony Fabian

Written By: Helen Crawley, Jessie Keyt, Helena Kriel, Anthony Fabian

Where to Watch

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 16 Critic Reviews
62
63% Positive
10 Reviews
31% Mixed
5 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 16 Critic Reviews
62
63% Positive
10 Reviews
31% Mixed
5 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
This great film by Anthony Fabian tells this story through the eyes of a happy girl who grows into an outsider.
By Roger Ebert FULL REVIEW
75
Director Anthony Fabian lets the story sell itself, and it does so partly on the strength of the lead performance by Sophie Okonedo.
By Walter Addiego FULL REVIEW
70
Ella Ramangwane gives a fine performance as the young Sandra.
By Andrea Gronvall FULL REVIEW
70
The fact that it's actually based on a true story adds an extra layer of poignancy, heightened further by another superb Sophie Okonedo performance.
By Michael Rechtshaffen FULL REVIEW
60
A little more variation in the script, though, might have yielded something truly great.
By Joe Neumaier FULL REVIEW
50
Alas, Mr. Fabian, directing his first feature-length fiction film, uses a club whenever a feather would do. He also mishandles the actors, in particular Mr. Neill and Ms. Okonedo, both of whom have been incomparably better elsewhere.
By Manohla Dargis FULL REVIEW
38
It’s a fascinating story: part genetic mystery, part socio-racial tragedy. However, Laing’s life, despite its inherent melodrama, does not automatically lend itself to the screen.
By Wesley Morris FULL REVIEW

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Details

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Production Company Elysian Films, Bard Entertainments, Moonlighting Films, Lipsync Productions, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, The National Film and Video Foundation of SA
Release Date Oct 30, 2009
Duration 1 h 47 m
Rating PG-13
Genres
Website http://www.skinthemovie.net/
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Awards

South African Film and Television Awards
• 1 Win & 4 Nominations
Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Giffoni Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations

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