Passing

In 1920s New York City, a Black woman finds her world upended when her life becomes intertwined with a former childhood friend who's passing as white. The film approaches the fear of being colored due to obvious reasons of the period, and it does so in a necessarily disturbing, emotionally investing manner. Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga deliver captivating performances as Irene, a light-skinned Black woman living in Harlem, and Clare, her white-passing childhood friend who marries into wealth. The film's elegant direction, handsome black-and-white cinematography, and refined upper-class settings create a sophisticated and drop-dead gorgeous visual experience, while the lead performances bring depth and nuance to this adaptation of Nella Larsen's 1929 novel.