by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Can Rebecca Hall, a truly underappreciated actor in her own right, make a splash as a new director? Well, she decided to make a few bold choices. First off, she made a fully black-and-white film in 2021 (not something unheard of, but certainly not commonplace). She also decided to go for the period piece route and focus on a completely different time. She created her new film, Passing, in a few ways that made it feel like it was from that era. The sound design and footage have quite the vintage aesthetic to them. But finally, she decided to take on racial issues and a complicated concept of “passing” for black women.
But what is Passing? Hall’s film focuses on the rekindling of a friendship between two mixed race women. Tessa Thompson’s Irene is living her life married to a black man (Andre Holland), but Ruth Negga’s Clare “passes” as white and is married to a bigoted man (Alexander Skarsgård). This film might not take a terribly deep dive into the ramifications of such a decision made by Negga, but it sure immerses the audience in some really awkward and uncomfortable situations. The introduction of Skarsgård’s John is SO uncomfortable, and speaks pointedly about the perspective of white men at the time. Hall takes the audience on a journey that is still poignant and overall tragic. It begs the question of what would happen to Clare if people ever found out her truth?
With plenty of compelling themes to chew on in this narrative, does Passing match it with its technical aspects? While, the film boasts a crisp and beautiful black-and-white visual palette, it is also giving a classic style to it. The lighting matches well with the color (or lack thereof) to make the audience feel like they might be watching an early cinema film. The audio design stands out as well. Especially from the start, this audio is strange and unique in 2021. You wouldn’t hear audio quite like this unless you were watching a film from this time. Every frame is striking and beautiful with the perfect costume and production design.
But what is the real highlight that might make Passing a memorable hit for the likes of Netflix? This cast is quite incredible. Thompson is strong and sensitive throughout the film as she tries to balance different perspectives. Her character is placed in terrible situations, and she really grabbed my attention with her choices in the scene where Irene meets John. John’s horribly racist efforts are met with a memorable and uncomfortable laugh that felt so real from Thompson. She is certainly matched in her acting chops and efforts by Negga. I have seen plenty of great charisma and energy from Negga in the past with such projects as Preacher. Her energy is certainly different in this film, but she can capture the audience’s attention whenever she’s on screen. Whether it is dancing at the big get-together or confronting inevitable truths, you see Negga working on so many levels. Holland and Skarsgård both nail their supporting roles too to offer updated juicy scenes for both Thompson and Negga.
Does Netflix have a relevant and modern winner on their hands? In many ways, yes. Hall does a serviceable job tackling its timely themes. The filmmaking is top notch and striking, which caught my attention. The actors really come to play — especially the incredibly genuine emotion that both lead actresses deliver. This timely and emotional cinematic journey is just one stream away on Netflix.
Grade: B
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