Unveiled (Fremde Haut)

Angelica Maccarone (2005)

Germany and Austrai

Genre: Drama

Fariba, prosecuted in Iran because of her love for a woman, flees to Germany. Trying to enter the country with forged documents she is immediately arrested. But her application for asylum is turned down. While being held at the airport detention centre, her desperate prospects are imporved by the suicide of her fellow detainee Siamak, a student activist. Fariba assumes his identity and, using his temporary permit of sojourn, is sent to a provincial village. At first glance, her survival seems to be assured, but in the refugee home she is obliged to uphold her male disguise in cramped quarters and a single mistake could blow her cover. In order to pay for forged documents, she takes an illegal job in a factory, where hs meets Anne, who is very concerned about Siamak's well-being. While spending more and more time together, they become dangerously close and Anne begins to suspect Fariba's true identity. (summary from 8th Festival of German Film, London 2005) 

Anne and Fariba embark on a tender love relationship. However, Anne's circle of friends respond to Fariba is a hostile and racist way. When Fariba is not granted asylum in Germany she has to return to Iran. The film ends with her homebound journey and the grim prospect of facing further prosection or hiding her sexual identity in Iran. 

Posted by Daniela Berghahn on 19 Apr 2006 •

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