The Man Who Sold His Skin

Sam Ali, a young Syrian who has fled the war in his country for Lebanon, works serving drinks in Beirut's art galleries while living as an undocumented migrant. Unable to obtain papers that would let him travel to Europe, where the woman he loves lives, he meets Jeffrey Godefroi, a well-known American contemporary artist. Godefroi offers him an unusual arrangement: he will tattoo a Schengen visa across Sam's back, turning Sam's body into an artwork. Sam agrees, and the piece becomes valuable, drawing collectors and attention. What he did not anticipate is how completely the deal would cost him control over his own life.

Kaouther Ben Hania wrote and directed the film, her second feature, released in 2021. It came before her later work Four Daughters and The Voice of Hind Rajab. Yahya Mahayni plays Sam, with Dea Liane as Abeer, Koen De Bouw as Godefroi, and Monica Bellucci as Soraya Waldy. The production was a European and North African co-production involving companies from Germany, Belgium, Tunisia, France and Sweden, and the credited cast runs to 35 names.

On IMDb the film holds 6.9/10 from around 7,700 votes, while on TMDB it has 6.5/10 from 155 votes, suggesting a modest but real audience. A critics' rating of 7.2/10 across 52 reviews places critical response somewhat above the audience scores.