for being a directorial debut (on the part of an incredibly talented woman to be fair) this was really solid. i think a lot of people might be unhappy with the unanswered aspects of it, or the lack of clarity or even the decision to film it in black and white and its aspect ratio. however, all of these work together to emphasize the nebulous gray area that being white-passing puts you in. it makes sense given hall's own experiences with racial identity.

(if you're like me and didn't know much about her beyond being a great but very british actor: her mother is originally from michigan and her grandfather was a man of color passing as white during his own time, presumed to be african-american and of native american descent.)

i think this was written well, directed well, and acted well. the source material is also worth a read. however, i'm white-passing myself (south asian, not bipoc) and i do think that my own experiences are part of why i found the lack of clarity and how much of this movie is open to interpretation to be part of what worked for it.

"We're, all of us, passing for one thing or other." - Irene

I felt so conflicted about this film that it took some time to even be able to write a review.

The film is good, simultaneously intriguing and frustrating. It is subtle and hopeful, and harsh and crushing in necessary places. As a queer, black person, I felt the weight of racial tension whilst watching, as well as the pressure to "pass" for something western society has deemed acceptable.

It's a reminder to some of us that we have to maintain decorum, remain vigilant and make sure there are no cracks... nor that the fragile pot we hold dear doesn't get too close to edge and break the status quo... even if we lie to others (and ourselves) that we didn't actually want the pot anyway... but... rambling... right, yes... the movie is worth the watch. Bittersweet... but worth the watch. Survival of the fittest or something...

Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga shine in a film that masterfully illustrates the allure, the burden, and the damage to all of passing. Passing is in the end in the eye of the beholder, what the white eye needs to tell itself to soothe its feelings or desires, and yet we still tear ourselves and each other apart trying to achieve or be in proximity to it.

It's rare seeing an arthouse Netflix original. This is a beautiful film and yes, the ending will be divisive. I still don't know how to feel about it.

At first I loved this movie for it's interesting visuals and engaging story with amazing performances. Although constantly on the line of being an Oscar Bait, it didn't bother me right until the third act where the the forcefully tragic ending made me dislike the whole thing.

Nevertheless, it's definitely an amazing debut!

A beautifully done adaptation of an American classic. It captured the tense, psychologically complex feel of the novella in a stunningly acted, stunningly shot film. (bonus: faithful to the source content!)

Director Rebecca Hall has an amazing feel for composition, angles and lenses.

I'm looking forward to her next movie!

to the Academy: Where’s Ruth Negga’s Oscars?

[Netflix] From Eduard Grau's cinematography that uses grayscale to create an almost unreal atmosphere, the film deals with ambiguity, contrasting personalities, and the gradation of black skin (from Clare's "clarity" even the darker tone of Irene's maids) that nuances the social strata. The distortion of segregation that the stairs represent is just one of the elegant and brilliant ideas of a movie rich in meaning.

I enjoyed this a lot, but it felt like a missed opportunity, about 80% is perfection, but left me a bit lost and lacking something in the end. Tessa and Ruth are exceptional.

i think i should just pass away after that. beautiful examination of the effects of racial identity and the complex identities of Black people in America.

oh Rebecca
i really wanted to love this movie more, and appreciate it more, but as Alfred Hitchcock said that the three most vital elements of a film are 'the script, the script, the script. '
the script is the weakest element here, everything other than that was perfect for a debut.
with everything i mean :
-the mesmerizing cinematography, this film used different shades of grey and black and white in a perfect way more than Branagh's Belfast.
-the acting was great, really Tessa's presence as "Irene" was haunting, and Ruth as "Clare" was a fairy tale princess came as a crack in Irene's life, as the crack in her bedroom's ceiling.
-the costumes, the props, the production design took me back to 1920's New York.
it was ok as a debut, and waiting to see how Rebecca's vision gonna evolve

A restrained, slow burning film with a devastating finish. Remarkable directorial debut for Hall.

The first half of the film drags a bit but that last hour is truly magnetic. A massively interesting topic explored with incredible subtlety, nuance and all the complexity it warrants. Fantastic performances and sublime directing. The black and white and the format work wonderfully. 

I don’t know what to think about the ending just yet, though. I don’t appreciate the woman-on-woman violence, and feel it is the easy way out to wrap up the story. However, I could be missing the bigger picture and it is for sure a powerful finish.

If you have insomnia, watch this. You'll be sleeping in no time. This is the most boring movie I've EVER seen.