‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’ movie review: Raising pertinent questions about ‘art commodity’

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s film is a couple of man lending his physique as a canvas to an artist

In a world the place commodities can extra simply cross nationwide boundaries than folks, Sam Ali, fleeing a civil warfare in Syria and persecution by the authorities, turns himself right into a commodity. An artwork commodity to be particular, lending his physique as a canvas to a celeb artist.

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania borrows the concept for her movie The Man Who Offered His Pores and skin, screened within the World Cinema class on the twenty fifth Worldwide Movie Pageant of Kerala (IFFK), from Belgian artist Wim Delvoye, who created an paintings on the again of a person named Tim, who was later auctioned to a collector. However, to this primary thread, she weaves in a number of others, together with the refugee disaster brought on by the scenario in Syria, the commodification within the artwork world and the prejudices that westerners maintain about these from the Center East.

The artist tattoos a big Schengen visa (which permits seamless journey inside Europe) on Sam’s again, making an announcement on how nationwide borders cease solely human beings. However, Sam is in for one more type of bondage in mega galleries, the place he’s handled as an inanimate artwork object. The artist’s loud statements concerning the work ring hole when Sam’s individuality is suppressed for the sake of the piece of artwork that he has develop into.

Parallel threads

Parallel to this goes Sam’s makes an attempt to get in contact along with his girlfriend Abeer, who was compelled to get married to a rich man settled in Europe, after Sam had fled the nation. Sam appears to have an consciousness of his physique canvas not being a coveted job, as he hides the very fact from Abeer. An organisation for Syrian refugees takes up his trigger, towards him getting used as a residing paintings, however Sam shouldn’t be so eager on being aided by them.

The movie raises some legitimate questions concerning the ideas of something turning into an paintings, and artworks and even sports activities gamers turning into commodities to be auctioned off, to be purchased by the best bidder. The value of the artwork work then provides to the hype round it, somewhat than discussions on its politics or its magnificence. The Man Who Offered His Pores and skin is thus a important dialog between two media of expression — cinema and set up artwork.

The refugees from war-torn nations — the place continued western interventions are one of many main causes of instability — being unable to enter these similar nations that perpetrate these acts, is one other uncomfortable query the movie raises.

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