10 New Movies Bound To Become Classics
5. Passing
Based on the novel of the same name by Nella Larsen, Passing tells the harrowing story of two African-American women (Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga) who are considered light-skinned enough to "pass" for white in 1920s America.
It's a delicate subject matter to be sure, but one that first-time director Rebecca Hall handles with care and brutal honesty throughout. It's confrontational, but also subtle in the way it depicts the horrors of racism and identity struggles.
Gorgeously filmed in stunning black-and-white and anchored by its powerful central performances - particularly from a never-better Tessa Thompson - Passing is visually striking and emotionally unnerving, and by telling such a difficult and under-explored story it's made a mark as a timeless historical drama and a vital viewing experience.