Passing

We all knew Rebecca Hall as an excellent actress (The Prestige (2006), Iron Man 3 (2013), The BFG (2016), A Rainy Day in New York (2019), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)...) but not as a director and writer. Nor was there a better place than the Sundance Film Festival to showcase this independent film in sumptuous black & white. Far from taking the easy way out, Rebecca Hall adapted Nella Larsen's novel published in 1929 for the screen. Making a film in costume to start as a director was a difficult gamble but it is to be acknowledged amply successful especially by the presence of a perfect cast including in the two main female roles Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga. In the second important roles we also note the presence of André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård and Bill Camp.

Passing features the unexpected and tragic reunion of two high school friends, Irene "Reenie" Redfield (Tessa Thompson) and Clare Kendry (Ruth Negga) whose new acquaintance ignites a mutual obsession that threatens their carefully constructed realities. Irene identifies herself as African-American and is married to an African-American doctor. Clare married a prejudiced but wealthy white American. These two different social backgrounds will intertwine and prove to give rise to a forbidden love relationship in a society that is not as open-minded as it is today.

It is easy to understand Rebecca Hall's desire, after having shot with such prestigious directors as Peter Hall, Tom Vaughan, Christopher Nolan, Woody Allen, Ron Howard, Ben Affleck, Stephen Frears, Shane Black, John Crowley, Steven Spielberg, Max Minghella, to get behind the camera and deliver a film that is close to her heart. Certainly passing is not easy to access and reminds us of the great Hollywood films of the 50s in which the direction was perhaps too academic and was based on perfectly treated scenarios and actors appreciated by the audience. Far from the current demonstration of the current blockbusters who seek at all costs to offer bigger than life films, Passing is meant to be simple but turns out to be a portrait of two women as beautiful as they are strong.

On the borderline between human drama and psychological thriller based on lies, repression and a sick obsession, Passing wants to be realistic and emotionally charged. The duet Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga works wonderfully and from this impossible love is drawn a portrait of an American society in which everything must be classified as normal and traditional.

Passing turns out to be a perfectly staged cinematic experience about the pursuit of happiness and authenticity with a filigree of American racism showing an American society not yet ready to empower minorities. Finally, following its world premiere at Sundance, the film was purchased by Netflix for screening this year.

Passing
Written and directed by Rebecca Hall
Based on the Novel by Nella Larsen
Produced by Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Margot Hand, Rebecca Hall
Starring Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård, Bill Camp
Music by Devonté Hynes
Cinematography : Edu Grau
Edited by Sabine Hoffman
Production Designer: Nora Mendis
Release date: January 31, 2021 (Sundance)
Running time: 98 minutes

Seen on January 31, 2021 (Sundance Festival)

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