Direction: Rebecca Hall
Country: USA
Rebecca Hall, a British actress most known for her roles in Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008), Christine (2016) and the recent The Night House (2021), deserves praise for her directorial debut. Passing is a remarkably poignant drama based on the novel of the same name by Nella Larsen. She adapted this meaty story with a slow-burn intensity, building it with cleverness and elegance to a shattering conclusion.
The story, set in the 20s, hits the stride when two mixed-race childhood friends bump into each other in New York after 12 years with no contact. Irene (Tessa Thompson) and Claire (Ruth Negga) apparently managed to have the life they’ve ever wanted, even taking opposite directions. The former is responsible, transparent and reserved, and still lives in Harlem as an upper-middle-class black woman with her doctor husband, Brian (André Holland). The latter, ambitious and outgoing, “passes” for white, and moved to Chicago after marrying John (Alexander Skarsgård), a wealthy white businessman with racist inclinations. This unexpected reconnection brings rapture and adversity in different proportions.
The film raises the flag on racial discrimination and class differences, but adds something more; something about the true nature of a person. The cast is faultless, with Thompson and Nagga at their best, while Hall reveals a surprising maturity behind the camera. The shots, consistently ravishing, are perfected with the beautiful tonal contrasts of Eduard Grau’s black-and-white photography. Together with the emotional strength and quality of the story, they make Passing an unshowy, instant classic not to be missed.
