By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.25
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Starring: Christian Vadim | Darina Al Joundi | Dea Liane | Jan Dahdoh | Koen De Bouw | Monica Bellucci | Saad Lostan | Yahya Mahayni
Country: belgium, france, germany, sweden, tunisia, turkey
Year: 2021
Running time: 104
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10360862/reference
Bob says: “A romantic melodrama merged with a satirical criticism of art and commerce. Sam Ali, a Syrian man on the run from the authorities, has to go into exile in Lebanon, leaving his girlfriend Abeer behind. This is apparently fine with her family, who are pushing her into a relationship with a man who works for the government, in Syria’s embassy in Brussels.
“In Beirut, Sam is offered an opportunity: a famous artist (kind of a Jeff Koons figure) will buy the rights to his back, which he will turn into an artwork — artwork that can legally be shipped to other countries for exhibition. Sam figures this will get him out of Beirut, and give him the opportunity to win back Abeer, who’s now married and living in Brussels. The artwork will be a commentary on war, commerce, freedom, humanity, the refugee crisis… or maybe it’ll just be a source of buzz and cash.
“Not surprisingly, Sam is surprised that the deal doesn’t exactly work the way he’d expected. Somewhat surprisingly, we’re fed kind of a pat, convenient ending. 3 cats”
Diane says: “One might think that with this premise and its attendant philosophical questions, THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN would be edgier. It flirts with in a number of social critiques, but ultimately what I most cared about was the love story. Flesh and blood wins out over concept, ironically. 3 cats”
Michael says: “Interesting, I enjoyed it quite a bit, in fact, I found it rather exciting. Strangely enough, I found the love story to be the least effective part of the film. I suppose it could have been edgier, or maybe delved deeper into the whole commodification of the self, but I found the premise rather intriguing… that a refugee can’t leave his own country until he becomes a commodity in the art world. I find the art world so strange anyway. I watched the documentary WOJAROWICZ this week as well, and that high end art world is so strange, and so whimsical.
“Also, I loved Monica Bellucci as the mysterious Soraya. I always love that kind of matter-of-fact rather inscrutable type. In fact, she’s on my early list for a supporting actress nod, along with cinematography, production design, and editing for this film. 4 cats”
Chris says: “Neat concept, occasionally wonky execution. Could’ve done without the romance subplot and the fake-out ending, although the production design, with all the mirror images and well-wrought pretension of the art gallery world elevates what could’ve ended up a one-joke premise. 3 cats“