THE APOPCALYPSE: CULTURE ON THE VERGE.

Sandra Laing's race: not so black and white.

Last week found me in Conference Room 4 of the United Nations, butt snugged in Namibia’s seat, mini mic before me, at a special screening of “Skin.” The she’s-white-no-she’s-black biopic is the true story of Sandra Laing, a distinctly dark-skinned girl born to white Afrikaner parents in the 1950s. They claim she’s white, the law (and eventually she) says she’s “colored,” she falls for a hot black dude, and mind-boggling apartheid bigotry ensues.

The award-winning film — out in NY and LA and arriving nationwide this month  — stars Sophie Okonedo as Sandra. But holy heartstrings! The real-life Laing came to the U.N. for the screening, and did a Q&A with director Anthony Fabian. Here are highlights from what they said… Continue reading →