UNVEILED (Fremde Haut)

With immigration, both legal and illegal, being such a hot topic these days, Unveiled proves to be a timely and moving drama.

Whether the background is political or personal persecution, or fleeing to a new country for a better life against all costs, the story is rather universal.

In this case, a woman named Farbia (Jasmin Tabatabai) flees persecution in Iran after being caught in a lesbian affair, and finds herself in the no-man's land of a refugee camp at a German airport. These people have come to Germany for different reasons, and she befriends one nervous young man seeking political asylum. One desperate day, she gets the news that she has been rejected for asylum and will be sent back, while at the same time her new friend commits suicide over his personal demons, despite just getting awarded a temporary permit. In a moment of extrememly quick thinking, Farbia cuts her hair, takes his name, and takes his place, as "Siamak" is now released to a temporary immigrant apartment.

As Siamak, she is a low-key resident, soft-spoken as to not make waves, but driven to not be in the situation for long, fearing that her cover will be blown. When she gets a job at a sauerkraut factory, the small-minded locals are a bit testy to Siamak and the other illegal workers, but she slowly works her way into a group of friends. The local guys are more than a bit jealous and testy when single-mom Anne (Anneke Kim Sarnau) begans to take a shine to this shy Iranian young man. Needless to say, the attraction goes both ways, but acting on it will open a huge can of worms that has risks that Anne can't even fathom.

Jasmin Tabatabai is excellent as Farbia/Siamak, passing as a somewhat babyfaced young man with lots of secrets and a gentle demeanor that could melt the heart of any woman trying to get past her bad taste in men. It is a tough role, and though she is maybe not as passable as the similar work by Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry, still Jasmin's Siamak probably wouldn't get a passing suspcious glance on the street. Her work is well-matched by Anneke Kim Sarnau, who is tough and attractive, but also visibly tired of her life, wanting more.

As Western countries continue to heat up with debates about immigration, it is important for films like Unveiled to be seen, to show another side of the story. Though this film is specific to two cultures (Iran and Germany) a similar story of immigration and rejection from a new land could be told a million different ways. The world is fast becoming a melting pot, and stories like this need to be told (and heard) from all sides to even begin acceptance and understanding.