'Passing' is a drama focusing on the reunion of two mixed-race childhood friends in their adulthood and become increasingly entangled in one another's lives and exploits. Irene identifies as African-American, having married a black doctor and raising two boys, whilst Claire 'passes' as white and has married a wealthy but prejudiced white man.
The film opens on Irene as she tours various stores looking for a gift for her son. The heat of the day overwhelms her and she seeks refuge at an upscale hotel where she has a chance encounter with her childhood friend Claire. The two women go to Claire's room for tea and cakes and reconnect, catching up on where each of them are now. As the two share, Claire's husband John comes to the hotel and Irene soon discovers that John has no idea Claire is mixed-race. She leaves in a hurry and returns to her home in Harlem.
Some time later Irene receives a letter from Claire in which she opens up about missing her background as she has had to suppress it around John. Irene does not reply to the letter, but after some time Claire visits with her at her home. Sympathetic towards Claire, Irene invites her to a jazz club at which she has organized a party with Hugh, a white writer. Together with her husband Brian and Claire, the four of them enjoy the night, and whilst Hugh is unimpressed with Claire, Irene notices the chemistry between her and Brian.
Thereafter Claire visits with Irene more often and the two become increasingly intertwined in each others thoughts and lives. They open up to each other with Irene saying that she has always envied Claire's free-spirited and lively personality, with Claire admitting that she has always had high regard for Irene's reliability and moral attitude. Claire admits that she is not like Irene, saying that she would do anything to get what she wants, even at the expense of hurting others. Later on Irene and Brian argue over how to parent their children, especially when it comes to discussing racial issues. Over time, Irene grows paranoid that Brian and Claire are having an affair, as she stays to watch over the boys one night so that Claire and Brian can go play bridge. Soon after Irene confronts Brian and the two argue over it, with Irene resolving to cut off contact with Claire. However, Brian foils her attempts as he invites Claire to a tea party Irene throws for Hugh. There, she breaks an heirloom teapot on seeing Brian and Claire speaking intimately, and is rescued from causing a scene by Hugh.
As Irene is out shopping one day with her friend Felise, who does not pass as white, she runs into John. On seeing the two women together, he starts to realise his wife's background. Thereafter Irene tries to warn Claire about her encounter, but relents. That evening, Brian, Claire and Irene are on their way to a party in Harlem, at which Irene asks Claire what she would do if John found out the truth. Claire says that she would move to Harlem permanently, unnerving Irene.
Over the course of the evening Irene is quiet and distant. She moves to open the window to smoke by, and soon hears a disturbance at the door. John has tracked down Claire, and as she calmly moves towards Irene, John bursts in and declares her a liar. Moving closer to the two women, John approaches Claire, and to protect her Irene puts out her hand. Claire falls through the open window to her death. Realizing what has happened, Irene joins the others downstairs, and breaks down in Brian's arms, as he comforts her on realising what has happened.
'Passing' centres on the turbulent emotional relationship between Irene and Claire. Shot entirely in black and white monochrome, the films visual style mirrors the theme of the story, namely the duality of the lives that both Irene and Claire lead, entirely comprised of the dark and light tones, with every shade of grey in between. The crux of the story lies in the choices that each of the women have made, in how they have chosen to build their lives. Whilst Irene identifies as black and tries to hold her family together in a prejudiced country, Claire has chosen to lead her life identifying as white. Both Irene and Claire realise that even though they have made different choices, they each face difficulties in their lives regardless of the path they have chosen. As Irene has to face racism and have her life made increasingly more complicated with having to raise her sons in a world that stands against them, Claire’s choice to pass as white has made her repress her identity, making her unable to live freely amongst white people and desiring to reconnect with the community in which she grew up in. The film delves deep into exploring the plight that both Irene and Claire are going through, at the same time presenting two very different characters and demonstrating how their separate individual approaches have resulted in vastly different lives.
At the heart of the story is Irene, played by Tessa Thompson, who is an upstanding citizen, trying to make the best of it in a world that is stacked against her. Thompson masterfully presents Irene as a somewhat righteous yet flawed individual, displaying her as a moral character, yet illustrating her shortcomings as the character grows increasingly paranoid about Claire’s intrusion in her life, threatening to disturb the life that she has built for herself by way of encroaching on her family and her community.
Conversely, Claire, portrayed by Ruth Negga, showcases a free-spirited and somewhat selfish individual, over the course of the film revealing that she is willing to do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Having passed as white, married a well-to-do man and enjoying a conformable life, Negga reveals through Claire that the character is self-serving, in that she wants to satisfy her wishes as they arise. As reconnecting with Irene has reminded Claire of the life that her community can offer, and as soon as Claire takes part in it, her urge to return to her old homestead is awakened, and it becomes apparent that she is willing to sacrifice the life that she has built in order to satisfy that want. Together, Thompson and Negga display a masterful and tumultuous relationship that encompasses kinship, admiration, envy and ultimately hatred as the two women try to navigate their lives to satisfy their wants, - for Irene the sense of safety and permanence and Claire the sense of belonging. The conclusion of the film ultimately reveals that even though Irene believes herself to be, and had thus far behaved as just, the character is pushed to her limit by Claire’s increasingly noticeable presence in her life, forcing Irene to reveal that she too is willing to do anything to safeguard the life she has created for herself, as she is at fault for Claire’s death. The closing scene of the film does however reveal that the choice Irene made breaks her, leaving the conclusion open to interpretation as to how her character will go on after the incident.
‘Passing’ is based on a novel of the same name written by Nella Larsen, adapted to the screen and directed by Rebecca Hall in her feature directorial debut. Hall has remained loyal to the original text, highlighting the themes of race, friendship, loyalty and the sense of betrayal. The visual style in which the feature has been shot works to the advantage of the story, highlighting the main motif of the story, unrelenting in continuously reminding the viewer of the dual nature of the lives that African-Americans must lead in a country that does not allow them a moment of respite from remaining on guard, having to lead their lives in careful consideration of each of their actions.
‘Passing’ is an elegant depiction of the struggle that black people face in their everyday lives, both visually and thematically. Even though the novel on which the film is based was written almost a hundred years ago, the story is still relevant, revealing to the audience that there is much more that we have to do to ensure safety and equality for all. With Tessa Thompson as Irene and Ruth Negga as Claire, the story depicts a deeply heartfelt struggle, at the core of which is a difficult relationship between two women striving to satisfy their needs and wants in a world full of obstacles that each of them are trying to overcome in their own ways.
Score: 3/4
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