Skin

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Skin

PG-13

2008

1h 47m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Sandra Laing (Sophie Okonedo) is markedly different from her parents. Born in 1950s South Africa during the height of apartheid, Sandra, who looks like a light-skinned black girl, has been confirmed as the biological daughter of her mother (Alice Krige) and father (Sam Neill) -- who are both white. But in her racially divided homeland, where the government does not know how to identify her, she faces racism at school and struggles to be accepted and understood by her own family.

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Critics 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.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sophie Okonedo beautifully portrays Laing as a confused and scared young woman who's forced to choose a color line, but not without her share of heartache and pain.

Rated: A

Sep 12, 2017

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Giles Hardie

Sydney Morning Herald

While it's important we never forget the horrendous evils of humanities past, Skin is sadly one social studies class too many.

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 8, 2010

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Performances are impeccable, and location shooting in South Africa adds to the power of an impressive true story.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 21, 2010

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Kate Rodger

Newshub (NZ)

For a story steeped in such personal and cultural drama, the telling of it was strangely the opposite, keeping the audience at a distance and robbing the story, one really worth telling, of impact.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 12, 2019

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Kelly Jane Torrance

Washington Times

There's something of a happy ending to this tortuous tale, but it's not completely satisfying.

Rated: 2/4

Dec 1, 2018

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S. Jhoanna Robledo

Common Sense Media

Intense family drama about race, identity during apartheid.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 17, 2011

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Audience Member

Beautiful movie Great movie Great movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/13/20

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Audience Member

An excellent film, which is really very tragic and the tragedy of Sandra and her parents, as well as the various players, makes for a very realistic portrayel of a true story and the terrible system of apartheid that is now no more , thank goodness.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Anthony Fabian directed this powerful true story with great performances from the three leads.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

Heartbreaking story of a coloured girl with white parents who grew up in South Africa during the 1950's. It shows the deeply flawed system of apartheid and the pain it caused to this family. Definitely a must-see to all South Africans.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

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Audience Member

A shocking but moving story of the terrible times in South Africa.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

This was a very good film. It is based on a true story, so that made it all the more touching. I can only imagine this family's struggle in raising such a child. But even more, Sandra's pain in growing up in such a world and never feeling like she belonged. Sophie Okenedo did an excellent job in portraying Sandra. She is such a wonderful actress. Worth seeing.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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Anthony Fabian

Director

Sophie Okonedo

Sandra Laing

Sam Neill

Abraham Laing

Alice Krige

Sannie Laing

Tony Kgoroge

Petrus Zwane

Ella Ramangwane

Young Sandra

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Synopsis

Sandra Laing (Sophie Okonedo) is markedly different from her parents. Born in 1950s South Africa during the height of apartheid, Sandra, who looks like a light-skinned black girl, has been confirmed as the biological daughter of her mother (Alice Krige) and father (Sam Neill) -- who are both white. But in her racially divided homeland, where the government does not know how to identify her, she faces racism at school and struggles to be accepted and understood by her own family.

Director: Anthony Fabian
Producer: Anthony Fabian, Genevieve Hofmeyr, Margaret Matheson
Screenwriter: Helen Crawley, Jessie Keyt, Helena Kriel
Production Co: Moonlighting, Bard Entertainments Ltd. [gb]
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material|Some Violence|Sexuality)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2016
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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