Segunda piel

It goes beyond sympathy and authenticity to insight as it examines the plight of a man who loves a man but feels he must love a woman.

The gay sex in Second Skin is vividly displayed and erotically charged, while the heterosexual material is presented discreetly.

Vera's technical prowess ends up selling his film short; he smoothes over hard truths even as he uncovers them.

After two hours of Vera's pretty but wet-blanket direction, it's too late to ignite any fireworks, even in the hands of such capable actors.

Despite some strong performances, never rises above the level of a telanovela.

The movie is quiet, modest and sympathetic almost to a fault; its scenes of emotional discord, accompanied by a swooning, sniffling score, seem best suited to cable television. It's like a Lifetime movie about men.

Apparently reassembled from the cutting-room floor of any given daytime soap.