Skin Movie Review Assignment: Identity and Belonging Theme

Skin Movie Review
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Skin Movie Review
Main Theme: Identity and Belonging
Skin is a movie that told the story of Sandra Laing: a colored girl born to white parents. Laing’s case was special and considering the fact that she was born during the apartheid regime, made things even more interesting. During the 50s and 60s, South Africa was engrossed in a deep racist agenda which mainly sought to elevate the status of the white people while demeaning that of the colored ones. The government made sure that being born black or colored was almost a crime and therefore, people were secluded within the confines of their color. Sandra’s story was special and almost unbelievable because people did not understand how a colored girl could be born to a family of white people. As she was growing up, everything was fine and life was just as any white kid would find it. However, the moment she went to school, her life completely changed because it was revealed to her that she was different and apparently did not fit into the white category. While at home, Sandra lived as her father’s angel and therefore, her life was comfortable. No sooner had she left for school than her life took a quick turn and unfortunately for her, it was for the worst. Her story attracted a lot of attention all over South Africa as her father fought to have her classified as white. Even though he won the case, Sandra’s identity and belonging were already thrown off balance. She was confused and did not understand why “her people” did not want her.
The main theme of this movie is identity and belonging. For Sandra, life was about to take her for a ride she would never forget and have her lose everything she valued and cared for. For a minute, she knew exactly who she was and even fit comfortably in the white Afrikaans category. However, in the next instance, she is confused about who she is and does not even know where she belongs and both sides, whites and colored, seem to have a problem accommodating her (Roger, 2009). First of all, Sandra notices how she is attracting a lot of attention from her peers at school because of the constant stares. While life at home seemed normal, at school she is made to feel inferior and out of place which further batters her self-esteem and confidence. Parents, students, and teachers all seem to have a problem having her at the school and the audience is introduced to Sandra’s confusion when she asks her father a simple question: “What did I do wrong?” This question is the highlight of her identity crisis and slowly she gets to understand how and why she is attracting a lot of attention (Byrnes, 2010). Apparently, the color of her skin was a mark of difference and also meant that she was not what or who she thought she was. Having grown up as white and getting to the point where the white community distances itself from her crushed her inner being. However, as she would soon come to realize, even the colored community had problems absorbing her into their fold.
Slowly, Sandra becomes the object of ridicule and contempt and is made to realize how different she is. During the apartheid regime, life for the colored was hard and due to the segregation that existed...