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Passing

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Tessa Thompson

Ruth Negga

André Holland

Alexander Skarsgård

Bill Camp

Gbenga Akinnagbe

Antoinette Crowe-Legacy

Justus Davis Graham

Ethan Barrett

Ashley Ware Jenkins

Amos J. Machanic

Stu S. Becker

Tom White

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Buzz Roddy

Derek Roberts

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Samuel Coleman

Tatiana Marie Barber

Carmen Carriker

Leroy Church

Brian Davis

Zuri Foreman

Abeni Jewel

Malik Kitchen

Ivan Phillip Owens

Donna Hayes

Shaun Hudson

Sienna Jeffries

Doris McCarthy

Rahim Rosen

Michael Y. Chow

Dori A. Rath

Chaz Ebert

Lauren Dark

David Gendron

Pam DeMetruis-Thomas

Eugene Hitt

Marjorie Durand

Jodi King

Eric Strausser

Bridget Fullan

Toni Roman-Grimm

Alex Noble

Mark DeSimone

Arcadiy Golubovich

Erika Hampson

Jacob Ribicoff

Joseph Restaino

Richard Baldomero

Paddy Hanlon

David Tecson

Ali Jazayeri

Kevin M. Lin

Christopher C. Liu

Branka Mrkic

Yvonne Huff Lee

Oren Moverman

Jerrell Suelto

Alexandra Georgette Koskoris

Stephen Phelps

Alexis Vail

Chris Cenatiempo

Emma Cantor

Vic Coram

Madeline Rocco

Rebecca Hall

Jennifer DiLullo

Stev Taylor

Ramsey Scott

Lori Abrams

Ashley Foy

Nella Larsen

Forest Whitaker

Margot Hand

Nina Yang Bongiovi

Sabine Hoffman

Eduard Grau

Laura Rosenthal

Nora Mendis

Kim Ostroy

Paige Mitchell

Devonté Hynes

Kristina Porter

Marci Rodgers

Mark Amicucci

Manuel São Bento

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Black-and-white films are something I'll always cherish, but when these two colors become part of the narrative itself, then I can only expect a great movie. Passing approaches the fear of being colored due to obvious reasons of the film's period, and it does so in a necessarily disturbing, emotionally investing manner. Tessa Thompson (Irene) plays in the colored side while Ruth Negga (Clare) enjoys the privileges of passing as white. A captivating story unravels with Irene and Clare feeling envious of each other. If the former desires the latter's (external) happiness, Clare feels terrible for not possessing the same principles and morals as Irene.

While I feel much more empathy for Irene's pride in being colored, I also don't blame Clare for getting a better life without all the discrimination. Both have their own personal problems, but as their friendship grows larger and more significant, these issues also expand and become seriously hurtful, especially to Tessa's character. The narrative loses a bit of steam when it starts focusing on romantic jealously instead of the interracial matter. The passage of time occasionally feels too abrupt and slightly confusing. Finally, the ending doesn't do justice to the movie's central theme and title, almost completely forgetting what it was supposed to communicate to the audience.

Nevertheless, it's still a marvelous film with a meaningful storytelling purpose. As expected, Tessa and Ruth deliver brilliant performances, boasting a charming, dynamic, even passionate chemistry, but André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård, and the always remarkable Bill Camp also prove their worth. The B&W transmits a beautiful message concerning the lack of importance of someone's color (in B&W, everyone looks the same), and the significant value of morals and principles that truly define a person. As her feature directorial debut, Rebecca Hall undoubtedly shows talent, but she'll need to learn that "less is more". Gorgeous, elegant cinematography from Edu Grau.

Passing is a solid feature directorial debut for Rebecca Hall, but she must learn to focus on just one central theme. Otherwise, such a beautifully shot movie boasting outstanding performances will lose its precious message in the middle of so many irrelevant, superficial romantic endeavors. Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga carry the plot forward with charm and elegance, as does everyone else in the cast, but these two share such remarkable chemistry that I feel that the slow pacing was actually quite adequate. While the main plot revolves around the "passing as white" debate, I couldn't feel more engaged by the narrative and its opposite-sided main characters. However, this fascinating matter gradually loses energy, ultimately fading completely to an underwhelming jealously story between women, culminating in a climax that feels slightly out-of-place and exaggerated. Still, it's more entertaining than I anticipated it to be, and it still leaves the viewers with a very interesting "what if it was me" scenario to think about.

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

“Passing,” based on the 1929 novel by Nella Larsen, is and elegant and sophisticated film. It’s drop-dead gorgeous to look at, and the lead performances from Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga are absolutely fabulous. Rebecca Hall‘s restrained direction adds to the beauty of the film, as does Eduard Grau‘s handsome black and white cinematography. There’s so much about this project to praise, but you may hear some refer to the movie as “nuanced” — which is nothing more than a polite way to say “boring.”

Refined, upper-class black woman Irene (Thompson) enters a fancy tearoom in a swanky New York City hotel. Across the table, she spots a blonde woman (Negga) staring her down. It turns out the two knew each other when they were younger, but fate has brought them together. Both women are black but light skinned, and Clare has used her complexion to her advantage by passing as white. They each struggle to find a place they belong in a society that’s not too kind to those who are of a different color.

It’s a story that’s filled with complex ideas, but the end result is mostly a snore. There isn’t much story to speak of, and the timely issues of gender, identity, and class, and the weighty topic of race as performance art, are squandered in a bland wrapper. The film is quite tame with its social commentary, which is so disappointing because this is the perfect vehicle in which to really make a bold statement.

Hall’s direction is nicely done, and she draws excellent performances from Negga and Thompson. But this movie is stretched to two hours when the sparse story could have been told in half that time. There are multiple scenes of deep gazes and lengthy pauses that slow down the movie, including what feels like a nearly three minute scene where someone is removing her coat.

I had high hopes for “Passing,” but I feel like this book-to-screen adaptation was a wasted opportunity to deliver a more important, profound message.

CinemaSerf

Tessa Thompson is "Renie" - married to successful doctor "Brian" (André Holland), who heads for some tea after a long day and encounters childhood friend "Clare" (Ruth Negga). She doesn't immediately recognise her because she has little colour in her skin... Indeed, as the story pans out even her husband, the pretty openly bigoted "John" (Alexander Skarsgård) has no idea that his wife is negro. "Clare" is pretty lonesome, and soon finds solace and popularity amongst her friend's friends who find her charming and vivacious - traits "Renie" possesses in scan quantity. What now ensues is a gentle observational look as how the relationship between the women, and the former's husband, children - even her maid, develop. The film is very easy to watch, to look at - the style of cinematography, the costumes and the lighting all lend themselves well to the imagery. The story itself is less impressive. Aside from quite a few plausibility issues, Thompson just seems to try too hard. There is little natural about her performance, and though perhaps, by contrast, because Negga is very much on top of her character, that does take much from the potency of this theoretically challenging, cleverly scored story. The ending, well - least said, I think though. It is almost as if Rebecca Hall just ran out of paper, rather than story.

Passing Q&A with Rebecca Hall, Devonté Hynes, and Jacob Ribicoff

Rebecca Hall on Passing | FLC Luminaries

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Passing

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Tessa Thompson

Ruth Negga

André Holland

Alexander Skarsgård

Bill Camp

Gbenga Akinnagbe

Antoinette Crowe-Legacy

Justus Davis Graham

Ethan Barrett

Ashley Ware Jenkins

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