Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

  • Advertisements

Movie review: 'Skin'

The true story of a dark-skinned girl born to white Afrikaner parents in apartheid-torn South Africa.

By Peter Rainer / October 30, 2009



If you make a movie about apartheid in South Africa, drama is practically built-in, though not necessarily excellence. "Skin," based on a true story about Sandra Laing, a black girl born, through a genetic anomaly, to white Afrikaner parents (Alice Krige and Sam Neill), is inherently dramatic but needed a stronger director than Anthony Fabian, who overdoes understatement. There are compensations, though. Sophie Okonedo, so good in "Hotel Rwanda," is fine here as well. As Sandra, she registers the disgust of racial indignity with visceral force – racism literally distends her. Grade: B (Rated PG-13 for thematic material, some violence, and sexuality.)

Skip to next paragraph
E-mail Permissions

Photos of the day

02.14.12 »

What happens when ordinary people decide to pay it forward? Extraordinary change. See how individuals are making a difference...

Charlie Weingarten pictured during a Common Threads cooking class in Los Angeles. The program, one of many projects started by Mr. Weingarten, aims to teach children to love healthy cooking and eating.

Charlie Weingarten finds fresh ways to champion selfless acts of philanthropy

A member of a philanthropic family founded Explore.org to inspire selflessness and lifelong learning.

Become a fan! Follow us! YouTube Link up with us! See our feeds!