Rebecca Hall has so far distinguished herself as a film actress thanks to films such as Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Woody Allen) or, more recently, Godzilla vs Kong (Adam Wingard). Passing is for her an eminently personal project, insofar as, by signing the adaptation of the novel by Nella Larsen, which the author published in 1929, and by going behind the camera to ensure the realization, the British actress calls the memory of a grandmother that she did not have time to know. The latter, African-American, apparently pretended to be a white woman all her life.
This reality being at the heart of the novel, the new director has found a very inspiring material, rich in nuances. Rebecca Hall thus explores a time when Afro-descendants chose to hide their true nature in an attempt to find better living conditions in white society.
Thanks to the sublime black and white images of Eduard Grau (the use of black and white also allows to nuance the colors), one evokes the New York of a century ago through the story of two women having made different life choices.
Irene (Tessa Thompson) lives in Harlem with her doctor husband (André Holland) always being on her guard as soon as she leaves the neighborhood. Her former friend Clare (Ruth Negga), married to a racist banker (Alexander Skarsgård), for her part wants to find a little authenticity, she who has been playing the white woman for years now. The two actresses offer superb performances.
Rebecca Hall thus echoes the tangible unease arising from the situation by displaying a certain talent for the direction and composition of the shots. Her feature film – the first that she signed as a filmmaker – certainly deserves to be seen on the big screen.
Passing is presented at the Cinémathèque québécoise and at the Cinéma Moderne in its original version with French subtitles. It will be offered on Netflix (Chiaroscuro is the title in French) from November 10.
In theaters this Friday and on Netflix on November 10.
Consult the film schedule
Drama
Passing
Rebecca hall
With Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland
1 h 38