The Man Who Sold His Skin - 1 nomination

 

Best International Feature Film - Tunisia

Sam Ali is a Syrian who crashes art openings with his friend to scam the food.  At one of these events, he meets the most successful artist in the world who tenders a proposition - in exchange for resettlement to Turkey (where Ali's former girlfriend now lives), the artist can produce a piece of artwork in tattoo on Sam's back.  Sam agrees to travel the world and sit in museums for people to come and see the art, and even agrees that the art can be sold to owners, which obligates him several times a year to visit the purchasers and to sit for them, as well.  The art is political - it is a travel visa which he could never get were he to try in regular life.  The artist is making a point that when a person becomes a commodity, he has travel rights he could never get when he was just a mere person.  The film is commentary on freedom, dignity, and ownership - if the person enters into the contract freely, is living in 5 star hotels and eating caviar for room service, is he free or is he a slave?

I can't say why but I didn't expect to like this film.  To the contrary, I suspect it will make my top 10 in 2021 list.  The lead actor delivers a performance that is spellbinding.  The story is activism.  Movies like this (and it's cliche to say it) hold up a mirror to the world and ask if we are living in humane times that we can be proud of.  It's a must see.

Watch the trailer here.

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