The Man Who Sold His Skin (2021)

The Man Who Sold His Skin Poster
Original Title: الرجل الذي باع ظهره

To be able to travel to Europe and find the love of his life, Sam Ali, a Syrian refugee, accepts to have his back tattooed by one of the most sulfurous contemporary artist; becoming that way a precious work of art.

Overview
"The Man Who Sold His Skin" is a 2021 Tunisian drama movie directed by Kaouther Ben Hania. The plot centers on Sam Ali, a Syrian refugee who exchanges his back to become a modern-day art piece, using a tattoo as his medium. As the movie unfolds, it raises resonating concerns about human rights, commodification of bodies, and the relationship between art and commercialism.

Plot Details
The movie's lead character, Sam Ali, depicted by Yahya Mahayni, is a Syrian refugee going to do anything to get to Belgium, where his lover, Abeer (Dea Liane), resides after weding a diplomatic authorities. Desperate and resourceful, Sam enables a famous contemporary artist, Jeffrey Godefroy (Koen De Bouw), to utilize his back as a canvas for a Schengen visa tattoo, making him a valuable art work in a Brussels gallery. The tattoo artist assures Sam that he will get a liberty he never ever dreamed of, but the agreement ends up being Sam's choice between 2 different type of jail time.

Insight and Themes
"The Man Who Sold His Skin" intensively treads the fine line between cynicism and bitter irony as it checks out styles consisting of immigration policies, human rights, and resource exploitation. The commodification of Sam's body starkly contrasts the disregard for Syrian refugees' lives, accentuating the absurdity of the scenarios refugees are put in due to international politics. The movie is not restricted to passing social commentary; it likewise endeavors into abundant areas of romance and social dispute, including layers to the narrative.

Vital Reception
The movie has received positive evaluations for its ingenious facility, engaging efficiencies, and thought-provoking themes. Yahya Mahayni won the Orizzonti Award for Best Actor at the 77th Venice International Film Festival, and the movie was chosen for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. However, some critiques mentioned the elements of over-simplification and stereotyping in the movie's story.

Conclusion
"The Man Who Sold His Skin" is a provocative, appealing movie that integrates components of dark satire, drama, and romance to create an effective, resonating narrative. It uses art as an unusual ways to highlight socio-political concerns, characters' sufferings, and large disparities between different worlds. The movie provides a plain suggestion of the human rights concerns face by refugees, the commodification of the body, and the often-ignored expenses of capitalistic ventures. As the movie portrays the life-size human stamp with the Schengen visa, it creatively lays bare the painful fact of borders and the journey of migrants striving to cross them.

Top Cast

  • Yahya Mahayni (small)
    Yahya Mahayni
    Sam Ali
  • Dea Liane (small)
    Dea Liane
    Abeer
  • Koen De Bouw (small)
    Koen De Bouw
    Jeffrey Godefroi
  • Monica Bellucci (small)
    Monica Bellucci
    Soraya Waldy
  • Saad Lostan (small)
    Saad Lostan
    Ziad
  • Darina Al Joundi (small)
    Darina Al Joundi
    Sam’s mother
  • Jan Dahdouh (small)
    Jan Dahdouh
    Hazem
  • Christian Vadim (small)
    Christian Vadim
    William
  • Marc de Panda (small)
    Marc de Panda
    Marc Sheen
  • Najoua Zouhair
    Sam’s sister
  • Husam Chadat (small)
    Husam Chadat
    Adel Saadi