Skin

How do you tell if someone is black and not white? Well in 1965 in apartheid South Africa the infamous 'pencil test' decided. The test involved sticking a pencil through your hair and then shaking your head. The pencil will usually fall out if you are white but will not fall out if you are black. For Sandra Laing a coloured girl born to white Afrikaner parents such inhumane tests decided her fate and made her life hell. The biographical film Skin tells the Remarkable and touching story of a black Afrikaner growing up in a time where race dictated who you were, who you could love and where you could live and study. I must admit I was a bit skeptical about watching this movie because I don’t like the way I feel after watching dramas about race. You know the kinda feeling you get after watching something as heart wrenching as Roots. With that said Skin is wonderful movie that affected me emotionally. My emotions aside, Skin is a compelling film- brilliantly executed and exceptionally acted. The movie stars Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda, The Secret Life of The Bees); her portrayal of Sandra Laing in her adolescence and her adult life is convincing and captivating. The supporting cast which includes Tony Kgoroge and Sam Neil is also equally impressive. Zimbabwean audiences will be interested to know that our Tongai Arnold Chirisa (Studio 263's Davies) makes an appearance in this film.