SOUTH Africa is proud of its racial diversity but, unfortunately, race continues to be an issue in this country.
SOUTH Africa is proud of its racial diversity but, unfortunately, race continues to be an issue in this country.
The journey to racial tolerance, which some people take for granted, has not been easy and over the years many people have struggled with the idea of accepting others as equals.
It is within this context that all South Africans should be happy that a movie has been made that tells this story of race and racial tolerance which, thankfully, is slowly taking root in our society.
Skin, a true-life story about South African Sandra Laing, has been nominated for the Best Foreign Film award at the NAACP Image Awards.
Sophie Okonedo, who plays the role of Laing , has been nominated for the NAACP's Outstanding Actress award.
Celebrating outstanding achievements and the performances of people of colour in the arts, individuals and groups that promote social justice through their creative endeavours, the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People Awards will be held on February 26 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Skin follows Laing's 30-year journey - from rejection to acceptance, and betrayal to reconciliation - as the young woman struggles to define her place in a changing world - and triumphs against all odds.
The movie traces the life of Laing, a coloured baby born to white parents, Sam Neill and Alice Krige.
The couple were as shocked as everybody else when their baby was born coloured as they were not aware of their black ancestry.
Though classified a white person in apartheid South Africa, Laing is not accepted by the white community and suffers discrimination and humiliation.
When she grew up Laing meets and falls in love with a black man. They get married and have two children.
Skin is due for release in South Africa on Friday, January 22.
The film will be screened at the all Sterkinekor Noveau cinemas in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and at the East Rand Mall, Maponya Mal lin Soweto, Westgate in Krugersdorp and Wonderpark in Pretoria.
Skin had its world premiere at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival, in Canada, in September 2008.
It also premiered to rave reviews in the US late in 2009.
Skin has won more than 12 festival awards, including the Audience Award for Best Film at the Santa Barbara Film festival; Best Narrative and Best Jury Awards at the Pan African Film Festival; Audience Award at the Afrika Film Festival in Belgium; Audience Award at the AFI in Dallas, US; Best Feature Film at the Palm Beach International Film Festival 2009 and Circle Audience Award at the Film Fest DC in Washington DC.
Starring award-winning Okonedo, Neill, Krige, Tony Kgoroge and Ella Ramangwane, Skin was produced by Anthony Fabian, Genevieve Hofmeyr and Margaret Matheson and is directed by Anthony Fabian.
I cannot think of a more South African story than this one.
Go and see it.
TRIUMPH OVER RACISM
SOUTH Africa is proud of its racial diversity but, unfortunately, race continues to be an issue in this country.
SOUTH Africa is proud of its racial diversity but, unfortunately, race continues to be an issue in this country.
The journey to racial tolerance, which some people take for granted, has not been easy and over the years many people have struggled with the idea of accepting others as equals.
It is within this context that all South Africans should be happy that a movie has been made that tells this story of race and racial tolerance which, thankfully, is slowly taking root in our society.
Skin, a true-life story about South African Sandra Laing, has been nominated for the Best Foreign Film award at the NAACP Image Awards.
Sophie Okonedo, who plays the role of Laing , has been nominated for the NAACP's Outstanding Actress award.
Celebrating outstanding achievements and the performances of people of colour in the arts, individuals and groups that promote social justice through their creative endeavours, the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People Awards will be held on February 26 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Skin follows Laing's 30-year journey - from rejection to acceptance, and betrayal to reconciliation - as the young woman struggles to define her place in a changing world - and triumphs against all odds.
The movie traces the life of Laing, a coloured baby born to white parents, Sam Neill and Alice Krige.
The couple were as shocked as everybody else when their baby was born coloured as they were not aware of their black ancestry.
Though classified a white person in apartheid South Africa, Laing is not accepted by the white community and suffers discrimination and humiliation.
When she grew up Laing meets and falls in love with a black man. They get married and have two children.
Skin is due for release in South Africa on Friday, January 22.
The film will be screened at the all Sterkinekor Noveau cinemas in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and at the East Rand Mall, Maponya Mal lin Soweto, Westgate in Krugersdorp and Wonderpark in Pretoria.
Skin had its world premiere at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival, in Canada, in September 2008.
It also premiered to rave reviews in the US late in 2009.
Skin has won more than 12 festival awards, including the Audience Award for Best Film at the Santa Barbara Film festival; Best Narrative and Best Jury Awards at the Pan African Film Festival; Audience Award at the Afrika Film Festival in Belgium; Audience Award at the AFI in Dallas, US; Best Feature Film at the Palm Beach International Film Festival 2009 and Circle Audience Award at the Film Fest DC in Washington DC.
Starring award-winning Okonedo, Neill, Krige, Tony Kgoroge and Ella Ramangwane, Skin was produced by Anthony Fabian, Genevieve Hofmeyr and Margaret Matheson and is directed by Anthony Fabian.
I cannot think of a more South African story than this one.
Go and see it.
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