The Man Who Sold His Skin
A Syrian refugee turns his own back into a priceless artwork, confronting the brutal trade-off between mobility, dignity, and survival.
Overview
A gripping tale of survival and sacrifice in the face of art and exploitation.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- provocative
- melancholic
- absurd
- thoughtful movie night
- international cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's powerful art-versus-commerce premise and sobering examination of freedom and human dignity.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sam's tattooed back becomes an artwork auctioned and collected by wealthy patrons.
Jeffrey's artwork and the collectors' auction turn refugee exploitation into a high-value art-world transaction.
Sam's ability to pursue a new life is entangled with the contract governing his body and public identity.
Sam is displayed as a living canvas whose tattoo attracts collectors, activists, and media attention.
Films like The Man Who Sold His Skin, and why
Dheepan
shared refugee-centered drama, political critique, and morally charged migration story
The Square
shared contemporary art-world satire, social indignation, and darkly comic drama
Mediterranea
shared displacement narrative, human dignity themes, and sobering European art-house tone
Triangle of Sadness
shared critique of commodification, institutional power, and tragicomic social observation
Movie Details
- Director
- Kaouther Ben Hania
- Release Date
- 2021-03-15
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (155)
Cast
- Yahya Mahayni
- Dea Liane
- Koen De Bouw
- Monica Bellucci
- Saad Lostan
- Darina Al Joundi
- Jan Dahdouh
- Christian Vadim
- Marc de Panda
- Najoua Zouhair
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Man Who Sold His Skin about?
- A Syrian refugee turns his own back into a priceless artwork, confronting the brutal trade-off between mobility, dignity, and survival.
- What is The Man Who Sold His Skin like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Man Who Sold His Skin as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Man Who Sold His Skin violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Man Who Sold His Skin as mild.
- What did critics think of The Man Who Sold His Skin?
- Critics broadly praised the film's powerful art-versus-commerce premise and sobering examination of freedom and human dignity.
- Which films are like The Man Who Sold His Skin?
- Films with a similar feel include Dheepan, The Square, Mediterranea, and Triangle of Sadness.
- How long is The Man Who Sold His Skin?
- The Man Who Sold His Skin runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Man Who Sold His Skin?
- In United States, The Man Who Sold His Skin streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
