Passing

5.8

1,055

Ratings

Add to lists

where to watch

flatrate

Pro reviews

Links

Original title: Passing
Year: 2021
Running time: 98 min.
Country: United States
Director: Rebecca Hall
Screenwriter: Rebecca Hall. Novel: Nella Larsen
Music: Devonte Hynes
Cinematography: Eduard Grau (B&W)
Cast: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård, Bill Camp, Kerry Flanagan, Derek Roberts, Frank Holley, Tom White, Ashley Ware Jenkins, Doris McCarthy, Donna Hayes, Rahim Rosen, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Sienna Jeffries
Producer: Film4 Productions, Flat Five Productions, Forest Whitaker's Significant Productions, Gamechanger Films, Picture Films, Sweet Tomato Films, TGCK Partners, XRM Media, AUM Group
Genre: Drama | Racism. 1920s
Synopsis: Irene Redfield (Tessa Thompson), a refined, upper-class 1920s woman, finds breezy refuge from a hot summer day in the grand tearoom of New York City’s Drayton Hotel. Across the room, she spots a blond woman staring her down. Irene wants to steal away, but before she can, Clare Kendry (Ruth Negga) rushes over to stop her. It turns out the two were in high school together, and while both are African American women who can “pass” as white, they have chosen to live on opposite sides of the color line. Now, their renewed acquaintance threatens them both.

Rankings Position

#150 Best Movies from 2021 (no animation films)

Awards: 2021: Golden Globes: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Ruth Negga)

2021: BAFTA Awards: 4 Nominations, incl. Best British Film & Best Actress (Thompson)

2021: Sundance Film Festival: U.S. Dramatic Competition

2021: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Cinematography & Supporting Actress (Negga)

2021: Directors Guild of America (DGA): Nominated for Breakthrough Director

2021: Screen Actors Guild (SAG): Nominated for Best Supp. Actress (Negga)

Show 4 more awards

2021: Chicago Film Critics Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Negga). 2 Nom.

2021: San Francisco Film Critics Circle: 3 Nominations, including Best Screenplay

2021: Gotham Awards: 5 Nominations including Best Film & Screenplay

2021: Satellite Awards: 2 Nominations: Supp. Actress (Negga) & Adapted Screenplay

Critics' reviews

"As beautiful and bruising and knotty as the novel that inspired it."

Kate Erbland: IndieWire
"Mesmerizing (...) It tells an intimate story of two women (...) while undertaking an intersectional exploration of identity in relation to race, gender, class and sexuality.

David Rooney: The Hollywood Reporter
"A superbly performed study of racialized longing and feminine dissatisfaction in 1920s New York, lit by searing intelligence and compassion."

Jessica Kiang: Variety
"Impressively refined and superbly acted directorial debut"

Carlos Aguilar: rogerebert.com
"A delicate, melancholy study in black and white, nearly every scene filled with careful silences and subtext"

Leah Greenblatt: Entertainment Weekly
"A mesmerizing movie and stunning debut for director Rebecca Hall (...) 'Passing' is not to be missed (...) She couldn't have found two acting interpreters more capable of bringing her humanist vision to life on screen"

Peter Travers: ABC News
"An extraordinary drama about racial identity starring Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson (...) 'Passing' is a visually and thematically rich drama"

John Serba: Decider
Show 4 more reviews

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to info@filmaffinity.com

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org