Skins (2017 film)
A Spanish drama film about deformed characters seeking love.
Skins (Spanish: Pieles) is a 2017 Spanish drama film directed by Eduardo Casanova. The film premiered in the Panorama section of the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. Production companies involved include Pokeepsie Films, Nadie es Perfecto, and The Other Side Films.
The story follows several characters. A man named Simon receives news that his wife has given birth to a son, but he remains at a brothel. An elderly nude woman tells him that suffering is inherent to life and that he should avoid his child because he is a pedophile. She brings in a girl named Laura, who removes a ribbon to reveal skin covering her eyes, sings a song, and is then raped by Simon. He gives her two pink diamonds to serve as eyes. Seventeen years later, Laura, now in her twenties, still works at the brothel. A waitress in debt tries to steal the diamonds, but when someone enters, she swallows them. Laura panics, unable to work without them. After the waitress returns the diamonds, Laura asks to touch her; the waitress is initially uneasy but eventually accepts it.
Samantha has an anus where her mouth should be and a mouth where her anus should be. She goes to a restaurant without a face covering to express herself, posts a photo on Instagram, and has it removed for nudity. Two boys harass her, but she escapes, accidentally running someone over. On her birthday, her father gives her a unicorn mask to hide her face, which she dislikes. He wants her to be careful because her mother had the same condition. The two boys find her again and sexually assault her after seeing her mouth-anus. She considers suicide by jumping off a cliff or getting into a trainwreck, but passes out.
Ernesto masturbates to a picture of his deformed girlfriend, Ana, and is caught by his mother, who has a panic attack and kicks him out. Ana is cheating on Ernesto with Guille, a burn victim, because she wants someone to love her for her appearance. Ernesto asks to move in with Ana, telling her he hasn't told his mother about their relationship because his mother wants him to date non-deformed women. Ana asks if he likes her or her deformity; he answers her. She doesn't believe him and ends the relationship. Guille finds a briefcase full of money and is happy to use it for plastic surgery. Ana is upset, believing he should accept his looks, and ends their relationship to love herself as she is.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Eduardo Casanova
- Starring
- Jon Kortajarena / Candela Peña / Ana Polvorosa / Macarena Gómez / Secun de la Rosa / Carmen Machi / Joaquín Climent / Antonio Durán Morris / Itziar Castro / Eloi Costa / Ana María Ayala
- Released
- 11 February 2017 · Berlin
- Runtime
- 89 minutes
- Country
- Spain
- Language
- Spanish
- Studio
- Pokeepsie Films · Nadie es Perfecto · The Other Side Films
- Gross
- €84,500
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film interweaves several storylines. Laura, a child at a brothel, is raped by Simon, who gives her pink diamond eyes. Seventeen years later, Laura works at the brothel; a waitress swallows her diamonds but returns them, and Laura asks to touch her. Samantha has an anus for a mouth and a mouth for an anus; she posts a photo on Instagram that is taken down for nudity, is harassed by two boys, and later sexually assaulted by them. She considers suicide but passes out. Ernesto masturbates to a picture of his deformed girlfriend Ana; Ana cheats on him with burn-victim Guille. Ana ends both relationships, choosing to love herself. Homeless Ernesto finds Samantha and falls in love with her. Cristian, a teenager with body integrity identity disorder, wants to amputate his legs to become a mermaid. He puts his legs on the road and Samantha runs them over; he dies smiling. Cristian's father is revealed to be Simon, who left to avoid abusing his son; Simon cries of guilt. Vanesa, a little person working in a teddy bear show, becomes pregnant with a dwarf child. She throws a briefcase of money out a window, killing her boss; Guille witnesses this and takes the money. The film ends with the waitress and Laura in love, Guille getting surgery, Samantha and Ernesto together, Vanesa having her baby, and Cristian happy as a mermaid in the afterlife.
Reader's Guide
Skins (2017) is a Spanish drama that premiered in the Panorama section of the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. Directed by Eduardo Casanova, the film presents a series of interconnected stories centered on characters with physical deformities or unusual conditions, exploring themes of identity, love, and societal rejection. The narrative includes explicit depictions of sexual assault, self-harm, and suicide, and has been noted for its provocative and surreal style. The film's significance lies in its unflinching portrayal of marginalized bodies and its challenge to conventional beauty standards, though it has also drawn criticism for its graphic content. As Casanova's directorial debut, it established his reputation for boundary-pushing cinema within the Spanish film industry.
Did You Know?
- The film was screened in the Panorama section at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival.
- Cristian suffers from body integrity identity disorder and wants to amputate his legs to become a mermaid.
- Simon, who rapes Laura, is later revealed to be Cristian's father.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Skins (2017 film)?
Skins, also known by its Spanish title Pieles, is a 2017 Spanish-language drama directed by Eduardo Casanova that centers on physically deformed characters navigating intimacy and connection. It was produced by Pokeepsie Films, Nadie es Perfecto, and The Other Side Films.
Who directed Skins (2017 film) and who were the production companies?
Eduardo Casanova helmed the project, which was made in Spain. The three production companies behind it were Pokeepsie Films, Nadie es Perfecto, and The Other Side Films.
What is the plot of Skins (2017 film)?
The narrative weaves together several characters, including a man named Simon who learns his wife has given birth to a son yet stays at a brothel, where an elderly nude woman confronts him about his past and introduces a girl named Laura. Through these encounters the film explores suffering, desire, and the body as both a prison and a means of reaching love.
Why do body-horror fans consider Skins (2017 film) notable?
Rather than leaning on gore, the film uses physical deformity and raw body imagery to examine how marginalized characters crave tenderness and acceptance. Its unflinching, almost poetic treatment of the 'othered' body sets it apart from more conventional genre entries and gives it a distinct place in the body-horror canon.
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