Skin (2008)

Skin (2008) follows the life of Sandra, a ten-year-old girl with a distinct African appearance, raised by her white Afrikaner parents, Abraham and Sannie, in a secluded part of the Eastern Transvaal. Despite her mixed-race features, Sandra is lovingly raised as their 'white' daughter. However, when she is sent to a boarding school in Piet Retief, her racial classification becomes a contentious issue. State officials reclassify her as 'Coloured,' leading to her expulsion. Abraham fights the decision in court, sparking an international scandal that ultimately forces a change in the law, allowing Sandra to be officially recognized as 'White' again. By 17, Sandra realizes she will never be fully accepted by the white community and begins a forbidden relationship with Petrus, a black vegetable seller. Abraham's threats and Sannie's internal conflict lead Sandra to elope with Petrus to Swaziland. Arrested and imprisoned, Sandra refuses to return home and must adapt to life as a black woman in South Africa, facing harsh living conditions. She and Petrus have two children, and though she finds a sense of belonging, she yearns for her parents. Despite years of hardship, Sandra holds onto her father's advice: 'Never give up!' This film is a poignant tale of family, forgiveness, and the resilience of the human spirit.