Passing has such a soft, curious touch that I really dig it even though I was left a little cold at the end.

Passing is set in the 1920s and stars Tessa Thompson as a light-skinned black woman who can, at times, pass as a white woman. She usually doesn’t but one day out shopping, she runs into an old friend played by Ruth Negga. She’s living her life as a white woman, married to a racist white man, with two children who can also pass. Negga’s character wants to reconnect with her black roots which is a risk for her, but also a risk for Thompson who feels some level of distrust or jealousy whenever she comes around (especially when her husband is present).

The fact it’s filmed in an old aspect ratio and in a high-contrast black and white is interesting on multiple levels. First, it makes skin tone very apparent in this lush black and white. There’s certainly intentionality in that that goes beyond just trying to emulate old photo stock. But the movie also, to me at least, feels like it was directed and acted as though it were a movie of its time. Not a 1920 film though (when it’s set) but more late 30s/early 40s. I dig this movie on a technical, artistic level.

From the standpoint of its deeper, cultural meaning, it’s a good film as well. Not being a person of color, I can only try to empathize with both sides of the passing debate. I get the cultural and social issues involved but I don’t know the deep-seated resentment or acceptance over the practice. Or of dark vs. light skinned African Americans. But I’m human so I can at least ground myself in the topic and seek empathy. Which I do feel but I also feel like I must be missing something deeper.

I say that because – and maybe this is me, maybe it’s the movie – I came away from the ending feeling cold. Obviously we’re left slightly unsure exactly what happened as Thompson’s character doesn’t seem sure herself. But I suspect the meaning is obvious that the husband is going to be fine regardless of what happened.

With that out of the way though, I’m not really sure what the movie was saying in general. The whole movie was enjoyable and interesting to watch but it didn’t, to me, feel like it was really playing in the sandbox of passing on a story level (thematically running throughout with every interaction, yes). Negga’s character was always taking some level of risk and I credit the story for not going in obvious thriller or suspense directions with it… but that left me thinking this would kind of be the same movie – from a character perspective – whether it was about passing or just about a wife with subtle jealousies over another woman (and possibly more, depending on how you read various looks between the women).

But, like I said, I’m probably missing some greater sensitives and meanings. But that’s fine since it’s a good movie regardless and maybe with time and reading and maybe rewatching, those deeper meanings will be found.

Score: 84