Comments on: Race and Film: The Release of Skin

By: d

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:39:02 +0000

I know I myself am not going to vehemently go against someone’s opinion if I haven’t seen the movie, or am very familiar with some part of it, but it’s nice to know that there are differing opinions; I love Sophie, and she just doesn’t seem to get enough work.

But that’s why this film, as well as many other films, should be released – even if in limited run – so we can all judge for ourselves.

By: Carlo Mendez

Carlo Mendez — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:12:36 +0000

I never usually respond to this kind of thing but I saw SKIN in New York and loved it, so much so that I find it hard to believe that these people who thought it was ‘a mess’ saw the same film!!! I felt compelled to write as I found the film to be so powerful and important and well done. I can only imagine that the artistry and the subtly was completely lost on these people.
I could not sit idly by and let them undermine such a wonderful piece of work without redressing the balance, I urge everyone to go and see it, it’s AMAZING!!!!
Bravo to all those involved in the making of SKIN. Please don’t let these negative people put you off from experiencing this film, it has so much to offer and it made me look deeper into myself, I hope the film does well and goes on to win many more awards.

By: Liam

Liam — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:57:47 +0000

I can’t believe the nonsense people write on here – commenting on a film they haven’t even seen! One person decides it’s a mess and everyone joins in like a chorus of parrots. This film is brilliant and EXTRAORDINARILY powerful – that’s why it keeps winning awards (10 to date) and audiences are intensely moved by it. Myself, I’ve seen it twice and enjoyed it even more the second time. This is the kind of thing that floors me: “I can tell you that I have no intention of seeing Skin… Fabian was not the right director to make this film” How the hell does she know if this was the right director? Has she seen all his work? And this one: “The film is a bit of a mess and would be bettered served with a bit more editing… it just seemed rushed.” So it needs editing, but it seemed rushed? I am here to tell you all, this film is a future classic and deserves every prize it is given: it is thought-provoking, exquisitely made, pitch-perfect performances and anyone who thinks it’s a mess should go and make their own damn movie – I’d love to see if they could do better.

By: d

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:59:01 +0000

I’m sorry, but we will NEVER have real parity unless both of these are allowed to come out in the actual theatres, and find its audience. Even if this film was a mess, like Nell said, there has been many mediocre to simply bad films. Why would this one be shunted off to cable/dvd and not the others. Why can’t this have a small but limited run like many other indie films (at least on the coasts). I was SO happy to read at the end that it will be showing in October. I’ll definitely be there. I love Sophie Okonedo!

Precious looks great, but that can’t be the only story that defines the issues of women of african descent. The combination fo the two films, along with others, would do a much better job, and I hope we eventually get there.

And frankly I am glad that a film is finally beginning to take a hard look at the genetics behind what we think a race is. I don’t know how successful this one was, but hopefully this is just the first of many.

By: Race and Film: The Release of Skin at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:00:11 +0000

[...] by Guest Contributor Melissa Silverstein, originally published at Women and Hollywood [...]

By: Alice

Alice — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:56:04 +0000

This is a problem for many filmmakers who do not understand the market for their movies. All filmmakers owe it to themselves to think about the potential audience of the film. I am a black woman and I can tell you that I have no intention of seeing Skin and it’s not because of the subject matter (the story itself is fascinating) but because of the treatment of it. Fabian was not the right director to make this film – and that’s another factor filmmakers should consider: just because you find a good story, it doesn’t mean that you have the sensitivity and wherewithal to tell it.

By: Nell

Nell — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:52:05 +0000

besides, there has been a lot of mediocre films that have been heavily promoted, and were complete junk, recently, “The Ugly Truth” comes to mind.

maybe it could go straight to video?

By: Nell

Nell — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:50:38 +0000

This may sound silly, but this seems like a project the would go over well on Oprah’s network. Maybe the director can try to contact someone with Harpo studios, and may be able to get some buzz that way.

By: Faye

Faye — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:45:55 +0000

For the most part, I agree with Matt. The film is a bit of a mess and would be bettered served – with a bit more editing- on HBO. I wanted to like this but the screenplay wasn’t as strong as it could have been and just seemed rushed.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:42:26 +0000

@Matt
Cable might have been a wise option especially since high-profile actresses like Drew Barrymore (Grey Gardens) got some solid Emmy attention there.

By: Matt Mazur

Matt Mazur — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:21:23 +0000

I thought the film was a bit of a mess — I think it is unfortunate that the director has encountered so many obstacles, but ultimately, that might be because the film is so decidedly mediocre.

Not being cheeky, but this could play well on cable, in a Lifetime-movie type situation. If they went this route, Sophie Okonedo might get some Emmy traction. the reality of a film of this quality getting promoted on a grand scale (ie — posters on the subway, trailers, etc.) might be grim, but there are alternative avenues that could be just as lucrative and high profile.

As far as the race issue — yes, it is a problem, but the tide seems to be turning a bit this year, and I think that Precious is going to be the film that turns it hard. I think we’re going to start seeing films and tv shows centered around women of color even more after this year. At least I hope!