Passing
★ ★★★
Passing is a beautiful, yet tragic, display of how racial disparity in this world affects everyday life. It's easy to get bogged down by all the bad things that are going around us, yet one still has to work and socialize. It's important that social justice issues are discussed, but when is the right time to address such issues? Passing's screenplay hints at the danger that can occur when such discussions are buried down deep. As Irene (a wonderful Tessa Thompson) wrestles with the concept that a past childhood friend lives a separate life as a white woman (Ruth Negga), her patch of acceptance and understanding ends up taking a toll on her family life. The fact that this is Rebecca Hall's directorial debut is stunning. The black and white cinematography is beautiful and stands as a perfect metaphor for the film's themes. Passing is methodical in its approach and never heavy-handed. After it was over, I was a little stunned not so much by the ending, but by how contemplative it forced me to be throughout its runtime.
