A One Mann’s Movies review of “Passing” (2021).
“Passing” (on #Netflix) is another catch-up movie for me from last year. Surprisingly, it has been completely overlooked at the Oscars, but is up for awards at this weekend’s BAFTAs: Best British Film; Leading Actress (Tessa Thompson); Supporting Actress (Ruth Negga); and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer (Rebecca Hall).
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
It’s New York in the 1920’s. Irene Redfield (Tessa Thompson) is spending the day ‘passing’ as white when she runs into old friend Clare (Ruth Negga). Clare is spending her life ‘passing’ to the extent that she has married a white man, John (Alexander Skarsgård), who is naively non-the-wiser as to her racial background.
Desperate to reconnect with her black roots, Clare infiltrates herself into the Harlem-based lives of Irene and her husband Brian (André Holland). This triggers insecurities and tensions between Clare, Irene and Brian.
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård, Bill Camp.
Directed by: Rebecca Hall.
Written by: Rebecca Hall (Based on the 1929 novel by Nella Larsen).
Twitter Handle: #passingmovie.
“Passing” Review:
Positives:
- The movie is artistic, filmed in crisp black and white and in a 4:3 screen ratio. It’s full of leisurely fades between scenes (and a particularly memorable one to white at the end of the movie).
- The two leads, as recognised by their BAFTA nominations, give great performances. While Ruth Negga’s is the more flamboyant, Tessa Thompson has perhaps the hardest job to do, bitterly reflecting the creeping insecurities that come over her as the movie progresses.
- There are some cleverly constructed shots in here. One in particular in a mirror sees Clare and Brian appearing to intimately talk to each other in the hallway. But on turning the corner, Irene finds they are feet apart. This contrasts beautifully with a later scene where you *expect* the same to be true.
Negatives:
- It may be that I am just a movie-loving bear with an exceedingly small brain, but I actually found this one quite hard work to understand what was going on. In particular, a dramatic balcony scene in the finale is very confusing. As I was streaming the movie, I was able to rewind and rewatch it a number of times. But I still struggling to perceive what happened. I can only assume that Rebecca Hall intended it to be excessively vague.
- In many ways, the fact that Irene is ‘passing’, while interesting, seemed to be largely superfluous to the plot! Or have I missed something?
- The movie seemed rather static to me. As if, like “Fences” or “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom“, it was a filmed version of a stage play (which this one in fact was not).
Summary Thoughts on “Passing”
“Passing” provides an interesting insight into a practice in 1920’s America that I was previously unaware of. It provides thoughtful commentary on issues of racial identity and insecurities. And there’s no doubt that the leading actresses do a fabulous job with their roles. But, as a movie, it really failed to grab me and absorb me as much as I expected it to do, with parts of it being darn-right confusing.
Hats off to Rebecca Hall for entering the fray on the other side of the camera, and with such a bold and courageous subject-matter. But, I’m afraid, this one wasn’t particularly for me.
Trailer for “Passing”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trwq3CNCMkU .
