source: Passing

source: Passing

Regardless of however long it took to get to the film's end, I was hoping that sometime before the main characters would be fully developed, that their secrets and passions wouldn't be glossed over, and that their fears would somehow present themselves on screen as more than someone else's nightmare. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. Throughout the film, with all the silent or slow motion moments, I found myself with the time to think up scenes that would have fully formed each character and landed on a finale that would sum up the lives of those I watched dance around--whatever it was they wanted. All the while, what I wanted was to love this film. Sadly, I can't.

"Passing" is an admirable freshman directorial effort from actress Rebecca Hall, but the film feels too tightly controlled to ever fully come alive. Ruth Negga (looking a bit like Joan Blondell) and especially Tessa Thompson give strong performances as two old friends and maybe more who run into each other again in New York City after years apart. Negga's character is passing for white and has married a vile biggot. Thomspson's character is in a sexless marriage with a doctor and is living a well to do life in Harlem. The act of passing in a racial context is the catalyst for the movie's plot, but the film explores the ways in which all of us are passing for something. It asks the question: Can those we love ever truly know us, and further, can we ever truly know ourselves? A large number of Americans right now seem to be having trouble dealing with reality as it actually exists, so I thought a movie about people creating their own realities in an effort to make their lives better, or at least more comfortable, would feel more immediate and tuned in to the times. But Hall keeps such tight control of the reins that the film can't breathe. It's like she wanted so much to avoid any missteps with this sensitive issue that she inadvertently sucked the life out of it. Still, the movie does have some things to recommend it. I've mentioned the performances, but it also looks gorgeous, filmed in pristine black and white by Eduard Grau. I'm excited to see what Hall does next, because she has a terrific eye. She just needs to relax. Grade: B.

Clare looks black to me-being light skin is not the only thing that would allow one to pass. The blonde wig didn't make me a believer either. Should have gotten someone who looks like Rashida Jones. Plus the movie was boring. I think I would have been able to put up with the boring plot had Clare really looked like a person who could successfully pass.

"Passing," based on a 1929 novel by Nella Larsen is stylish, nuanced, and refreshingly smart. Unlike most films that spell everything out for you, "Passing" requires more of an audience. It allows you the freedom to interpret things in your own way. As a result, the film offers an experience unique to the individual viewer. It essentially tells the story of two light-skinned African American women, Irene (Tessa Thompson) and Clare (Ruth Negga), childhood friends who meet by chance as adults. Clare is passing for White while Irene lives mostly as a Black person in Harlem (but passes when it is convenient). Clare, who yearns to reconnect with Irene, threatens Irene's carefully controlled life. Besides the obvious issue of passing for White, the film deals with questions about sexuality, how context plays into our perceptions of people, and how to discuss race with our children. Beautifully shot by. Eduard Grau in black & white in a traditional 1.33:1 ratio, it almost looks like we're watching a vintage film. The gifted actor Rebecca Hall, whose African American maternal grandfather, Norman Isaac Ewing actually passed for White (and Native American) in the early to mid-20th century, directs her feature film debut with a sure hand. A subtle film with an unhurried pace requires your full attention to fully appreciate.

Rebecca Hall's 'Passing' is a profound, challenging, and gripping examination of racial identity. As a debut feature from an actress-turned-director, Hall is confident in her visions. The visuals and performances from all the cast are executed to near-perfection. It's hugely accomplished and very impressively staged.

I dont really know what to think about the movie. It have a great ambience and atmosphere and the look white and black is pretty well made. But you need to be warned that the movie is very slow and threat a racial theme. But i didnt find any purpose of this movie and what it want us to think about it. I found 2 womens talk about their lifes and what they loved. Its like two friends who just meet and. Spend times together. Social condition is mentionned but i found it pretty superficial. It still pleasant to watch and some shots were pretty interesting but it clearly lack of storytelling. The visual lack also of storytelling and purpose. Still have a good moment to watch it but nothing more. I didnt find any messages or moral about the movie or surprise. The end is pretty rushed i suppose and it end pretty quick in my opinion. A little bit disappointing about the movie. I excpected more mysteries, suspense and more but nothing at all.

Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga are two beautiful black women who are on the light side of the spectrum. In this movie Negga decides she's light enough to live her life as a white woman in an effort called Passing. After losing touch with each other in childhood, Thompson who plays Rene runs into Negga playing Claire at a time when she was passing for white, and married to a white man who not ironically hated black folks (did I mention the movie is set in the late 1920s?) Though the term Passing comes from the concept of black people getting away with being white (and on one level that Rachel Dolezal thing), the movie in itself tries to examine how we are all passing for something. Most of it is not as plain to see as the black concept except for the idea of homosexuals passing for straight, something that was pretty obvious from the jump. I think my favorite part of the movie is the idea that some people can pass better than others. I noticed little elements of some people who feel they can't pass having mixed feelings about those who can pass and what was weird about that is that the person who can pass seemed to fit in wherever they wanted, which was hard for the person who could not pass to see. I also think it's interesting that a white women wrote and directed this movie, unless Rebecca Hall is passing. I'm making an assumption that this is the actress, Rebecca Hall. I say this: there is no passing that this movie was directed by a white woman (even if she's passing). It's very cool that Hall wanted to tell this story, but I think it would have felt different if Regina King directed it. I would say the movie had a very interesting subject that should be talked about and if this is Hall's directorial debut...it shows.

Fell asleep after the first hour. Why was this filmed in black and white? I would like to see the skin tones albeit Glowed Up. Trying too hard to be trendy. YAWN.