The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020)

The Man Who Sold His Skin: Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania. With Yahya Mahayni, Dea Liane, Koen De Bouw, Monica Bellucci. His own body turned into a living work of art and promptly exhibited in a museum, Sam, a Syrian refugee, will soon realize to have sold away more than just his skin.

“Nominated for Best International Feature Film at the last Academy Awards, The Man Who Sold His Skin features an interesting premise concerning a Syrian refugee exploited in the name of art and couldu0026#39;ve made for a sharp, scathing satire on the whole thing. But it is so preoccupied with its love story that all the themes the film touches upon and the places it couldu0026#39;ve gone to remain unexplored.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWritten u0026amp; directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, the film starts on a promising note and the early setups even hint at something audacious in the making. However, instead of digging into its unfolding set of events, Hania just skims through it and settles for a simplified outcome that avoids any risks. Anyone looking for a movie to explore the political implications of turning a human into a commodity is going to be disappointed here.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMaybe Hania never intended to say something profound with her story and itu0026#39;s probably why that ending is still part of the final product, despite it betraying a lot of what happens before. The framing, composition u0026amp; lighting on display is impressive throughout but what stands out best is Yahya Mahayniu0026#39;s potent showcase as the titular artwork. Dea Liane is just as good in her role as his lover while Monica Bellucci feels like a miscast in this.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall, The Man Who Sold His Skin brushes on themes of refugee crisis, exploitation, elitism, objectification u0026amp; dehumanisation but is more concerned with its glossy romance subplot than the heavier elements present in the picture. The lovesick protagonistu0026#39;s inability to get over his break-up does more harm than good to our investment in him. Also, the romance itself is cold u0026amp; lacking in warmth, which in turn makes the ending all the more underwhelming.”