PASSING

Adapted from the celebrated 1929 novel of the same name by Nella Larsen, Passing tells the story of two light skinned Black women, Irene Redfield (Tessa Thompson) and Clare Kendry (Academy Award-nominee Ruth Negga), who can “pass” as white but choose to live on opposite sides of the color line during the height of the Harlem Renaissance in late 1920s New York. Clare has made the life-changing decision to pass as white for her husband, John (Jack) Bellew. After a chance encounter reunites the former childhood friends, Irene reluctantly allows Clare to visit her at her home, where she ingratiates herself to Irene’s husband (André Holland) and family, and soon her larger social circle as well. As their lives become more deeply intertwined, Irene finds her once-steady existence upended by Clare.  Featuring an assured directorial debut by Rebecca Hall, Passing is a riveting examination of obsession, repression and the lies people tell themselves and others to protect their carefully constructed realities.  Q and A with Producer Nina Yang Bongiovi (Fruitvale Station) following the screening.