“Skin” For those of us who depend on “appearance” - A warning against discrimination hidden in a moving true story

“Skin” synopsis

Skinhead men violently attack anti-fascist protesters. One of them is Bryon "Babs" Widener (Jamie Bell). Abandoned by his parents as a teenager, Brion was picked up by Krager (Bill Camp) and Charlene (Vera Farmiga), who run a white supremacist group, and raised as if they were their own children. He has now become the leader of the group. , had become a hardcore racist. He works at a tattoo shop and has numerous tattoos on his body, including a swastika and other discriminatory Arrival. However, after meeting Julie (Danielle MacDonald), a single mother raising three young daughters, Bryon begins to feel lost in his life. He decides to leave the group and start a new life with his girlfriend, but his criminal record and tattoos are obstacles, making it difficult for him to get a job. In addition, his former friends, including Slayer (Daniel Henshall), who do not tolerate his betrayal, continue to threaten him on a daily basis. Darryl L. Jenkins (Mike Colter), who runs an anti-hate organization, offers to help Bryon make the transition as he struggles to decide between his family's safety and his own well-being. A wealthy woman offers to fund his tattoo removal. In order to say goodbye to his past self, Bryon undergoes 25 removal surgeries over a period of 16 months.

Index

• Stories of “redemption” and “condemnation” coexist
• Universality and catharsis that does not end with “heaviness”
• Dependence on “appearance” that causes discrimination

Stories of “redemption” and “condemnation” coexist

A proof of loyalty carved into your skin.

But my heart has noticed. I want to be “myself.”

Adversity that makes the people around me and the world bare their fangs. Will he be able to get his life back?

`` Skin '' (2018), in which Jamie Bell from ` `Billy Elliot '' (2000) plays a racist with full body tattoos, has just been released in Japan. It is a feature-length version (the story is different) of the same title that won the Academy Award for Best Short Film, and is being distributed in North America by A24. Based on these achievements, many people were probably looking forward to the release.

Bryon "Babs" Widener (Jamie Bell) was raised by Craiger (Bill Camp) and Charlene (Vera Farmiga), who lead a white supremacist organization. He is also an executive of the organization, but one day he meets a single mother, Julie (Danielle Macdonald), and begins to doubt the life he has led. I want to live an honest life with Julie and my three daughters. Bryon vows to change his way of life and tries to leave the group, but the path is difficult...

At first glance, the impression of ``Skin'' may be that it's an extreme work full of violence, due to its strong visuals. However, the content of this movie is no exaggeration - it's a moving film based on a true story.

“Skin” preview

The story depicts the serious theme of ``Can people change?'' The story revolves around a young man who has lived his life as a racist and tries to leave his community and become a ``katagi.'' However, the main character is not a racist at heart, but rather runs away from his abusive parents and is living on the streets when he is picked up by a racist couple. He looks like a hard-core racist, but on the inside he's a simple young man. It can be said that the conflict between ``SKIN'' and personality is constantly occurring.

What emerges from this is the profound question, "What drives people to madness?" Rather than depicting pure evil that cannot be understood, this work depicts a child who was free from discrimination and prejudice, but whose personality has been distorted by the education and violence of his parents, and who has become an adult. Quietly appeal for social responsibility. In other words, the title ``Can people change?'' includes ``Is it okay to change people?''

In the film, there is a scene in which Kreger approaches a boy on the street and invites him into his group, a scene reminiscent of Bryon's past.At the same time, it also shows how ``guaranteeing food, clothing, and shelter'' is for a young man who has nowhere else to go. You can clearly feel that it has a sweet sound. Ideology comes later, as it did with Bryon. Brainwashing takes time, but placating is easy. Krager and Charlene's method of exploiting poverty is truly effective and frightening. They are not narrow-minded thinkers, but truly understand the origins of humanity.

By portraying a victim who has been controlled and ``tainted'' by them, this work also sharply delves into the existence of perpetrators. Brion's words to Julie, ``I know it's not normal, but they're my family,'' symbolize the undisguised conflict and hopelessness of the current situation. Bryon may be a racist, but there is someone else who has "changed" him.

While it is a story of redemption, it is also a story of condemnation. This part has a powerful presence as the basis of ``Skin''.

Universality and catharsis that does not end with “heaviness”