The Man Who Sold His Skin
Yahya Mahayni, a Tunisian director, is a master with a difficult topic and fully capable to entice the viewers and for these two factors her movie has been awarded many prizes, well deserved, and was at both Venice and the Oscar as foreign entry for Tunisia. Yet, as I said, there is something that disappointed both me and my wife. With such story, such potential, such directorial and acting skills we felt short of a masterpiece.
Let me get through a bit better... the story is a of a Syrian guy, in love with someone who was promised to a diplomat. Because of something he inadvertently says during a train ride, recorded and put on the web, he is forced to run away from everything. He lives in Lebanon where he meets a world famous artist who is willing to give him a 'job' as a living commodity. Tatooing in his back a Schengen visa he becomes art and thus, somehow, he is finally able to travel. Like his refugee friends can't. He can travel and reach Brussel where the love of his life is waiting for him. When he is 'exhibited' troubles come, from his former lover's husband, from Syrian refugees association that sees him as exploited and from being afar from his family in the war torn hometown. Raqqa by the way.
Here the many questions the movie comes with: is it moral for a person to be shown as a piece of art? Isn't that slavery? Isn't he free in this way? He is also sold, he has agreement to regulate that... His life puts him away from his family, his life changes, and he feels guilty for not being where he feels he should. He is a still feel deeply Syrian and despite the others may see him abused or tries to use him, he still wants the best for a community that is scattered and in shambles.
Then the end... the end is a bit weird, a bit too american style, but well different from the classic happy ending.
In substance is a movie with a great potential, visually and as a plot. The meaning the director wants to give to her work may not be as strong as we may have enjoyed, but this is what the main character look after, living without making the difference.