The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020) May 2026

Released in 2020, The Man Who Sold His Skin (Arabic: ar-rajul allaḏī bāʿa ẓahrahu ) is a satirical drama directed and written by Tunisian filmmaker . The film is inspired by real events and follows a Syrian refugee who turns his body into a living piece of art to gain passage to Europe. Core Premise & Plot

By becoming a "commodity," Sam gains the legal freedom to travel that he lacked as a human refugee. He is shipped to Belgium to be exhibited as a silent, live installation in art galleries. The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020)

The story centers on (Yahya Mahayni), a young Syrian man who flees to Lebanon after a political misunderstanding leads to his arrest. Desperate to reunite with his fiancée, Abeer (Dea Liane), who has moved to Brussels, Sam accepts a "Faustian bargain" from Jeffrey Godefroi (Koen De Bouw), a world-famous, provocative contemporary artist. Released in 2020, The Man Who Sold His

Sam quickly realizes the toll of being an object for elite consumption, as he is gawked at, bought, and sold by wealthy collectors. Key Themes He is shipped to Belgium to be exhibited

Godefroi tattoos a Schengen visa onto Sam’s back.